“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
—Nelson Mandela
This is being written a few days following the passing of Nelson Mandela and it’s only appropriate that this month’s quote be his.
I’m not going to give a history lesson or political rant—there’s plenty of that available on social media. What I would like to do is illuminate this quote in the world of model aviation. The classic example of something that lacks education is the word drone.
For me, and I think for the general public, this word has almost always had a military connotation. As we move to embrace the world of sUAS at the AMA, we’ve tried to stay in front of the terminology that accompanies any activity. Unmanned Air Vehicle, small Unmanned Air System, probably the most common two, also describe the model aircraft we’ve been flying for years—radio-controlled aircraft!
Without warning, drone video footage started coming into our homes more than 10 years ago and some people can’t let go of the difference between a 1 pound quadcopter and the latest missile-firing Predator currently deployed. Wouldn’t some education help here?
Then, of course, we have some people who think that using the much more sensational word “drone” will improve their TV, newspaper, magazine, or whatever ratings they are trying to build. Would education help here, or is this a matter of choice being made by people who are already educated and know the difference between our recreational and light commercial use versus the military variants and their use?
So, we want to change the world? Do we trust that what Nelson Mandela says is true? Then let’s at least lead the attack with education.
At this year’s AMA Expo in Ontario, California, we will introduce e-learning as part of AMA Flight School. This will be an additional feature that will allow us to provide our members with evaluated learning resources. We can license or certify (whatever we end up calling it) everyone who wants to fly light commercial sUAS under the auspices of the AMA! Additionally, we can provide lists of approved equipment for that use—admitting that there is a difference between the $150 sUAS you fly in your yard and the $8,000-plus commercial platform. We have to understand, accept, and embrace that.
The other information that we, as AMA members and mostly longtime enthusiasts of model aviation must embrace, is that this ship has sailed. The true definition of the sUAS phenomenon, while describing a radio-controlled model airplane, is also what we think of as quadcopters, hexcopters, etc. One of the interesting things educationally about the sUAS is that an individual doesn’t have to learn to fly a model as we know it to be.
With gyro stabilization, they fly themselves, simply using throttle to adjust altitude. Onboard gear such as GPS, allowing position hold, makes the use of camera gear simple when the platform is that stable. The equipment and function of these platforms are literally advancing daily.
60 Minutes, Amazon, and other organizations have brought to our general public the idea of what might be possible. The use of sUAS in search and recovery, law enforcement, agriculture, property management, and other ventures will begin to show the possibilities for all of us.
Oh, and then there’s education! We are planning to release AeroLab II in an online version only that will include sUAS content. It’s no surprise that there are many out there already utilizing the sUAS in classrooms.
[photo]
Here’s a photo of Quadrotor Flight Controller class at the HiTech STEM Lab at the East Columbia Branch of the Howard County Library System in Maryland. The purpose of the class is to introduce students to quadcopters through hands-on learning. The students investigated the physics behind multirotor liftoff, stabilization, direction of flight, and landing the aircraft. Students worked in teams to assemble the propulsion system and wire the flight controller and power system. Students honed their flight skills through a flight simulator before flight testing their builds in the final class.
It’s time that everyone embraces the future and excitement it brings.
Okay, I can’t help it. One more thought from Nelson Mandela:
“It always seems impossible until it’s done!”
Fly and have fun!
