AMA in Action-2011/12

12 MODEL AVIATION
Advocating AMAinACTION for Members
Terrorist Plot Shocks the Modeling Community
On Wednesday, September 28, Rezwan Ferdaus of
Ashland, Massachusetts, was arrested and charged with
attempting to destroy national defense premises and
buildings owned by the United States. According to the FBI
affidavit filed with the United States Magistrate, Ferdaus,
who is not an AMA member, planned to use GPS-guided
1/10-scale models of the F-4
Phantom and F-86 Sabre to
spearhead an attack on the U.S.
Capitol and the Pentagon, and to
deploy a squad of six assailants
armed with AK-47s and hand
grenades to kill government
workers as they fled the
buildings.
The news of Ferdaus’ arrest
and alleged planned terrorist plot
set off a firestorm of media
accounts and speculation regarding the use of model aircraft
as a terrorist weapon. AMA was quick to react to the news by
condemning Ferdaus’ alleged actions and pointing out that
this was not an act stemming from the modeling community
and was by no means a reflection on the legitimate use of
model aircraft. Ferdaus’ plans were no more a reflection on
the aeromodeling community than the Oklahoma City
bombing reflected on the rental truck industry.
The FBI said that Ferdaus had previously provided the
undercover agents with seven cellphones he’d converted for
use as remote detonators for improvised explosive devices
(IEDs). He demonstrated a cellphone’s ability to act as a
detonator by remotely illuminating an LED built into the
device. Ferdaus hoped the devices would be used to
kill US soldiers in
Afghanistan, according to
the FBI.
Ferdaus’ aberrant use
of this technology is not a
reflection on the cellular
industry any more than his
intent to convert model
aircraft into military drones
correlates to model aviation.
Modelers’ reactions to the
news was mixed. Most
expressed outrage at the
prospect of a terrorist plot to use model aircraft as a weapon,
and most rightfully questioned the plausibility of Ferdaus’ plan.
It’s unlikely he would have ever gotten these aircraft off the
ground, and if he did, it’s questionable as to whether he could
have inflicted significant damage. Most members applauded
AMA’s proactive approach in speaking out on this issue while
others felt that perhaps the best course of action would be to
remain silent and not lend credibility to the terrorist plot.
I believe it is imperative that the Academy be proactive and
speak out in such situations. In the eyes of the general public,
model aviation is generally obscure and often misunderstood.
It’s not uncommon for the mainstream media to put its own
spin on modeling activity and misrepresent the aeromodeling
community. AMA must make every effort to educate people on
the benefits and the legitimacy of model aviation and to set the
record straight when the hobby is misrepresented or maligned.
Urgent Update:
The sUAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) has
been delayed and is now due to be released in mid-February.
Please keep an eye on the AMA website for the most current
information regarding the NPRM. It is imperative that the
AMA membership become well-informed and vigilant in
keeping abreast of the sUAS issue.
Timely updates can be found on the AMA website at
www.modelaircraft.org, on Facebook by “Liking” AMAGov,
and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amagov. MA
—Rich Hanson
Government and Regulatory Affairs