out, and I was happy that we had decided to
lay low and hope it would fade away. I
thought if we rose to the bait and challenged
it, the publicity would spread the story further
than without our “help.”
That report died away only to be replaced
by another which doesn’t have the technical
deficiencies of the first one. The latest “news”
report has terrorists using model airplanes to
carry out nefarious deeds here in the United
States, and points out that these are not
remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) but model
airplanes available from your local hobby
shop.
This has brought a ton of E-mail from
AMA members, asking—and even begging—
AMA to make them go away and to protect
our right to fly. The problem is that this has
become the discussion item of the day on
many Internet sites dedicated to Radio
Control (RC) modeling, and it has started to
take on a life of its own.
It is amazing to see the transformation in
the story as the hours—yes, hours—pass. We
have all heard how a story repeated from
person to person transforms so that after a
number of repetitions, it changes. This is the
electronic equivalent. The problem with this
story is that it is not assailable on technical
grounds. What it puts forth as fact is possible,
and we cannot argue that it cannot be done.
The fact that the story isn’t likely for
various reasons is irrelevant. As we all know,
any story told repeatedly becomes more
believable with each repetition. A story told
often enough becomes “fact,” thus urban
legends are born.
Most of these stories would die a natural
death if they were not repeated so often, but
these stories may not since they are being
widely circulated. The biggest problem is that
they are being related by our own members!
These modelers, while well meaning, are their
own worst enemies. Each time a modeler
THE ADVENT OF the Internet has done
some wonderful things for people, bringing
the availability of information about almost
anything literally to our fingertips. For
modelers, the Internet and E-mail have
enabled us to exchange information quickly
and cheaply.
Do you want to know about a particular
engine, radio, or airplane? Just type the name
into a search engine and you will probably be
able to find the information you need. Do
you want to know how others feel about any
subject? Post a question to any of the myriad
news groups and you can find out others’
opinions of any item or idea.
While the potential of the Internet has
barely been scratched, it has created a few
problems. Instant communication and the
ability to communicate with a wide audience
are wonderful capabilities when the
information is correct, but at an amazing
speed, that medium can also spread
information that is either completely wrong
or sometimes detrimental to the intended
audience.
Recently we have seen well-meaning
modelers spreading information via the
Internet, which could spell big problems for
our activity in the future. We have witnessed
a huge increase in the number of Internet
sites, primarily commercial subscription
sites, dedicated to reporting warnings of
terrorism. Most of these mean well but seem
prone to quoting “reliable sources” which,
not surprisingly, seem to be inaccessible to
the mainstream press.
I believe much of what these sites report
has some basis in fact, but much of what they
report seems to be potential rather than
reality. Awhile back, one of these sites
reported that the Palestinians were fitting a
large number of toy airplanes with
explosives for use against Israel. The report
detailed the type of model involved, and this
detail was ultimately the undoing of the
authenticity of the report.
In that particular case, the model quoted
was not capable of flying with enough
explosives to do much more than create a
loud pop. Further, the model didn’t have
sufficient range to fly the distances cited, nor
did the radio have any capability to perform
the functions the article said it would.
In spite of this, I got many “information”
copies of the article, with pleas for AMA to
react. This particular report seemed to die
Dave Brown AMA president
President’s Perspective
sends this article to another modeler,
intending to solicit his help in fighting the
threat, he is spreading the rumor and making
matters worse rather than better.
I know the modelers mean well, but let’s
not shoot ourselves in the foot. Each site this
type of thing is posted to is one more place
that a search engine can find it, and if it is
posted on many sites, then some will believe
that it must be true!
We at AMA do not know whether this
report is true or not, but we have a few
reasons to think it is either being wildly
exaggerated or is more hypothesis than fact.
In the latest case, the rumor has it that a
federal agency is about to close down model
flying, yet I can’t see that the agency
specified has any authority to do this.
AMA is working with the agencies we
need to be working with in Washington to
ensure our greatest chance of continued right
to take part in our hobby/sport. As I write
this, I know of no laws being considered
which would take that privilege away.
Other factors working in our favor
include the fact that while our models could
be used in nefarious ways, they are not
inherently a threat, and could only be used as
a delivery vehicle. Almost anything that
moves could be used as a delivery vehicle, so
we are not anymore of a threat than any other
vehicle.
Terrorists seem to prefer to be martyred
when carrying out their deeds, and do not
seem to be the least bit hesitant to use suicide
missions. Fortunately, RC models do not fit
that mold, which may work out to our
advantage.
AMA is working to develop a planned
media reaction to any possible occurrence of
a model being used to commit a crime, or the
mainstream press becoming focused on such
a possibility.
Another problem we are experiencing is
well-meaning modelers reacting to requests
from the press. In these requests, the press
seems interested in promoting the activity,
but when the story comes out, it is as an
outline of the dangers our activity creates for
society.
The tip-off is when the reporters ask how
much payload the model is capable of and
how far you can fly it. You need to be honest
yet careful when dealing with this type of
question. Emphasize the fact that you can’t
Dave Brown
AMA president
[email protected]
June 2003 5
Draw attention to the
positive rather than
the sensational.
Continued on page 148
accurately hit a target at any significant
distance, and you can’t fly the model
farther than you can see. Draw attention to
the positive rather than the sensational.
Do our sport/hobby a favor, and keep the
discussion and distribution of damaging
reports to a minimum, lest we take careful
aim and shoot ourselves in the foot. At the
same time, be watchful for any activity
that is suspicious, and be ready to report it
to the authorities. I hate the thought that
we have degenerated into a society in
which we need to be ready to report such
activity to the authorities, but ...
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/06
Page Numbers: 5,148
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/06
Page Numbers: 5,148
out, and I was happy that we had decided to
lay low and hope it would fade away. I
thought if we rose to the bait and challenged
it, the publicity would spread the story further
than without our “help.”
That report died away only to be replaced
by another which doesn’t have the technical
deficiencies of the first one. The latest “news”
report has terrorists using model airplanes to
carry out nefarious deeds here in the United
States, and points out that these are not
remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) but model
airplanes available from your local hobby
shop.
This has brought a ton of E-mail from
AMA members, asking—and even begging—
AMA to make them go away and to protect
our right to fly. The problem is that this has
become the discussion item of the day on
many Internet sites dedicated to Radio
Control (RC) modeling, and it has started to
take on a life of its own.
It is amazing to see the transformation in
the story as the hours—yes, hours—pass. We
have all heard how a story repeated from
person to person transforms so that after a
number of repetitions, it changes. This is the
electronic equivalent. The problem with this
story is that it is not assailable on technical
grounds. What it puts forth as fact is possible,
and we cannot argue that it cannot be done.
The fact that the story isn’t likely for
various reasons is irrelevant. As we all know,
any story told repeatedly becomes more
believable with each repetition. A story told
often enough becomes “fact,” thus urban
legends are born.
Most of these stories would die a natural
death if they were not repeated so often, but
these stories may not since they are being
widely circulated. The biggest problem is that
they are being related by our own members!
These modelers, while well meaning, are their
own worst enemies. Each time a modeler
THE ADVENT OF the Internet has done
some wonderful things for people, bringing
the availability of information about almost
anything literally to our fingertips. For
modelers, the Internet and E-mail have
enabled us to exchange information quickly
and cheaply.
Do you want to know about a particular
engine, radio, or airplane? Just type the name
into a search engine and you will probably be
able to find the information you need. Do
you want to know how others feel about any
subject? Post a question to any of the myriad
news groups and you can find out others’
opinions of any item or idea.
While the potential of the Internet has
barely been scratched, it has created a few
problems. Instant communication and the
ability to communicate with a wide audience
are wonderful capabilities when the
information is correct, but at an amazing
speed, that medium can also spread
information that is either completely wrong
or sometimes detrimental to the intended
audience.
Recently we have seen well-meaning
modelers spreading information via the
Internet, which could spell big problems for
our activity in the future. We have witnessed
a huge increase in the number of Internet
sites, primarily commercial subscription
sites, dedicated to reporting warnings of
terrorism. Most of these mean well but seem
prone to quoting “reliable sources” which,
not surprisingly, seem to be inaccessible to
the mainstream press.
I believe much of what these sites report
has some basis in fact, but much of what they
report seems to be potential rather than
reality. Awhile back, one of these sites
reported that the Palestinians were fitting a
large number of toy airplanes with
explosives for use against Israel. The report
detailed the type of model involved, and this
detail was ultimately the undoing of the
authenticity of the report.
In that particular case, the model quoted
was not capable of flying with enough
explosives to do much more than create a
loud pop. Further, the model didn’t have
sufficient range to fly the distances cited, nor
did the radio have any capability to perform
the functions the article said it would.
In spite of this, I got many “information”
copies of the article, with pleas for AMA to
react. This particular report seemed to die
Dave Brown AMA president
President’s Perspective
sends this article to another modeler,
intending to solicit his help in fighting the
threat, he is spreading the rumor and making
matters worse rather than better.
I know the modelers mean well, but let’s
not shoot ourselves in the foot. Each site this
type of thing is posted to is one more place
that a search engine can find it, and if it is
posted on many sites, then some will believe
that it must be true!
We at AMA do not know whether this
report is true or not, but we have a few
reasons to think it is either being wildly
exaggerated or is more hypothesis than fact.
In the latest case, the rumor has it that a
federal agency is about to close down model
flying, yet I can’t see that the agency
specified has any authority to do this.
AMA is working with the agencies we
need to be working with in Washington to
ensure our greatest chance of continued right
to take part in our hobby/sport. As I write
this, I know of no laws being considered
which would take that privilege away.
Other factors working in our favor
include the fact that while our models could
be used in nefarious ways, they are not
inherently a threat, and could only be used as
a delivery vehicle. Almost anything that
moves could be used as a delivery vehicle, so
we are not anymore of a threat than any other
vehicle.
Terrorists seem to prefer to be martyred
when carrying out their deeds, and do not
seem to be the least bit hesitant to use suicide
missions. Fortunately, RC models do not fit
that mold, which may work out to our
advantage.
AMA is working to develop a planned
media reaction to any possible occurrence of
a model being used to commit a crime, or the
mainstream press becoming focused on such
a possibility.
Another problem we are experiencing is
well-meaning modelers reacting to requests
from the press. In these requests, the press
seems interested in promoting the activity,
but when the story comes out, it is as an
outline of the dangers our activity creates for
society.
The tip-off is when the reporters ask how
much payload the model is capable of and
how far you can fly it. You need to be honest
yet careful when dealing with this type of
question. Emphasize the fact that you can’t
Dave Brown
AMA president
[email protected]
June 2003 5
Draw attention to the
positive rather than
the sensational.
Continued on page 148
accurately hit a target at any significant
distance, and you can’t fly the model
farther than you can see. Draw attention to
the positive rather than the sensational.
Do our sport/hobby a favor, and keep the
discussion and distribution of damaging
reports to a minimum, lest we take careful
aim and shoot ourselves in the foot. At the
same time, be watchful for any activity
that is suspicious, and be ready to report it
to the authorities. I hate the thought that
we have degenerated into a society in
which we need to be ready to report such
activity to the authorities, but ...
