Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1927 – July, 18 2014

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1927 – July, 18 2014

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1927 with a release date of July 18 2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Ham radio first responders activate as Typhoon Rasmussen hits the Philippines; the United States takes home the gold at WRTC2014; German hams get limited time access to the 4 meter band; Spain extends its 60 meter ham band evaluation; the government of Brazil chases paraglider pilots off 2 meters; a cubesat with a solar sail to launch before years end and a very happy 100^th birthday to the ARRL. All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1927 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


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RESCUE RADIO: PHILIPPINES RADIO HAMS ACTIVATED FOR TYPHOON RAMMASUN

The Philippines Amateur Radio Association disaster response group known as the Ham Emergency Radio Operation was activated on July 14^th. This as Typhoon Rammasun threatened that nation and then headed toward the China coastline. We have the latest in this report:

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Typhoon Rammasun, known as Typhoon Glenda in the Philippines departed that nation on Wednesday, July 16th. This after causing at least 20 deaths while knocking out power to entire provinces, ripping roofs of buildings and forcing nearly half a million people to flee from its strong rain and winds.

According to news reports, the number of citizens evacuated to emergency shelters reached more than 423,000. These were mostly in the eastern province of Albay which was the first to be hit by the typhoon.

Before the typhoon made landfall, Philippine Amateur Radio Association President Thelma Pascua, DU1IVT, had activated the groups Ham Emergency Radio Operation or HERO network with primary operations on 7.095 MHz in the 40 meter band. Other frequencies used by these ham radio first responders included 7.119 and 7.151 MHz. All amateurs within radio range of these frequencies were asked to stay clear until the emergency was declared over.

Also prior to the typhoon’s arrival the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had warned the public of the storm, with possible landslides and flash flooding. According to reports, the HERO network and other emergency response agencies were working closely with one another to provide communications into isolated areas and to assess damage caused by the storm.

For the amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom in Los Angeles.

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More about the typhoon and its aftermath in next weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report.
(VK3PC, published news reports)

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RADIOSPORTS: USA TAKES THE GOLD AT WRTC2014

The 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship is over and the United States has brought home the gold. ARRL Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ who served as the events Chief Referee got to announce the winners:

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K1ZZ: “…This was a team that was in first place after the first hour and never looked back. Not only did they have the highest multiplier, they had the highest QSO total (of) 4,572. They had the highest QSO points that means their contacts were worth more per contact because they made contacts outside North America.

“But I know it is a tremendous pleasure for Doug, K1DG, who has been on that pedestal himself, now to present the Gold Medals for WRTC2014 to N6MJ and KL9A, the operators of K1A.”

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As Dave Sumner stated, the first place and the Gold Medal went to the team of Daniel Craig, N6MJ and Chris Hurlbut, KL9A. They operated with the call K1A and garnered the top spot with an overall score of up 7,184,844 points.

Taking the Silver Medal was the Slovakia team of Rastislav Hrnko, OM3BH, and Jozef Lang, OM3GI. They were on the air as W1L and logged 6,816,144 points.

Rounding out the top three was the German team of Manfred Wolf, DJ5MW, and Stefan von Baltz, DL1IAO, who took home the Bronze Medal. This after having scored a total of 6,421,383 points operating as W1P.

This year’s actual on-the-air competition took place the weekend of July 12th and the 13th from sites in and around the city of Westborough, Massachusetts. 59 teams from around the world took part.

More about this event including a video archive of the opening and closing ceremonies is at wrtc2014.org. (WRTC, others)

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RESTRUCTURING: GERMAN RADIO HAMS GET 70 MHZ ACCESS

The German Federal Network Agency has approved the use of 70.000 to 70.030 MHz by Class A radio amateurs through August 31st.

The German national society, the DARC report the restrictions are similar to those for the 50 MHz band. Those are a maximum of 25 watts Effective Radiated Power, permission to use all modes with a bandwidth of up to 12 Kilohertz into a horizontally polarized antenna system.

This temporary authorization means that the 4 meter band is available in Germany for the first time since way back in 1957. The DARC says it will work with the various agencies necessary in hope of garnering a permanent allocation for the band. (DARC, Southgate, IARU-R1)

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RESTTRUCTURING: SPAIN EXTENDS 5 MHZ OPERATIONS TEST

Hams in Spain are getting a time extension for their use of the 5 MHz or 80 meter band. Back on January 1st Spain’s Department of Post and Telecommunications authorized the use of several frequencies in that spectrum until this past June 30th. But following a request from the Union Radioaficionados Espanoles, the nations telecommunications regulator has granted permission for use of the band to continue until November 30th, 2015

The frequencies authorized are 5268, 5295, 5313, 5382, 5430 and 5439 kHz, with a power of 100 Watts PEP. Because these channels are not in common with any 5 MHz allocations outside Spain, hams in other countries making contact with Spanish stations on 60 meters are reminded that their own transmitted signal must remain within their nations designated frequency allocation. (G4WMO, OK1RP, EA7OP, URE)

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INTRUDER WATCH: IARUMS REPORTS ACTIONS AGAINST HAM BAND INTRUDERS

The International Amateur Radio Union Monitoring System newsletter reports on action against illegal Brazillian Hanglider and Paraglider communications on 144 to 148 MHz and a French intruder on 40 meters. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, has the details:

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After receiving complaints that unlicensed stations were using the 2 meter band to coordinate sport flying activities, the Brazilian Telecommunications Agency Anatel took direct action against the intruders early last April. That’s when Brazilian Federal Agents visited a launching hill in the city of Caraguatatuba, located in the northern shore of the State of Sao Paulo. There they detected illegal aeronautical mobile communications in the 144 to 148 MHz amateur band and traced it directly to sports pilots flying hang gliders and para-gliders.

The agents confiscated a number of hand held transceivers being used by the non-ham sports pilots and cited them for their unauthorized use of these devices. Anatel also ordered all sports pilots to move any radio operations away from ham radio spectrum and into what it termed as a more appropriate telecommunications services such as that nations Limited Service or Aeronautical Mobile Service.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Ralph Squillace, KK6ITB, near Los Angeles. .

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Meantime in response to complaints about a long CW transmission on 7 dot 166 MHz every Wednesday afternoon, the Monitoring Service traced those to France’s the Centre for Telecommunication and Specialized Data Processing north-east of Paris. These transmissions were made up of encrypted five letter groups. This finding led to a formal complaint being filed with the appropriate authorities. At airtime the outcome of this one is unknown. (IARUMS-R1)

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BREAK 1

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W9RCA repeater serving Indianapolis Indiana.

(5 sec pause here)


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RESCUE RADIO: PARTIAL AGENDA FOR GAREC 2014 ANNOUNCED

The emergency communications provided by radio amateurs during and after a Super Typhoon that hit the Philippines will be among many presentations and displays at the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference or GAREC slated for August 14^th to the 15^th. This in conjunction with Alabama's Huntsville Hamfest. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Stephan Kinford, N8WB, reports:

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As a part of the GAREC 2014 program a detailed presentation will be given on the Super Typhoon Haiyan that struck the central part of the Philippines in November of 2013. Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded and devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. Volunteer response to it involved over 100 radio amateurs in the Philippines-based Ham Emergency Radio Operations Network.

Other presentations expected to be given are the work of radio amateurs following flooding in Brazil and the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Japan. Delegates will also get to see the work of Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network and the Military Auxiliary Radio System. Formal message handling, the National Traffic Service and third party traffic will be likely discussed.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting.

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Attendance at this year’s Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference will also offer delegates the opportunity to attend the Huntsville Hamfest which this year is an ARRL Centennial Event. It’s being held the weekend of August 16^th and 17^th at Huntsville’s Vom Braun Center. For details on the Huntsville Hamfest simply take your web browser to Hamfest.org. (VK3PC)

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ENFORCEMENT: FCC DIRECTS OREGON HAM TO ECXPLAIN ALLEGED VIOLATIONS

On June 5th, the Resident Agent of the FCC’s Portland Office of the Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Violation to Oregon amateur service licensee Thomas Ryan Price, W7WL. This for his alleged violation of Sections 97.101(d), 97.113(a)(4) and 97.119(a) of the Amateur Service Rules.

According to the regulatory agency, this past May 13th its agents used radio direction-finding techniques to pinpoint the source of an interfering signal to Price’s residence in the city of Sweet Home. At that time the agents claim that Price was the source of malicious interference to other radio communications on 3 point 908 MHz by transmitting music on the frequency and failure to properly identify at the end of each transmission.

When it issued the Notice of Violation the FCC told Price that in accordance with Section 1.89 of the agency’s rule, that he had 20 days to submit a written statement concerning this matter . The response had to fully explain each violation and contain a statement of the specific actions taken to correct each and preclude recurrence including a time line for completion of any pending corrective actions. That date is now past.

At that time Price was also directed to support his response with an affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury, signed and dated by him showing personal knowledge of the representations provided in his response, verifying the truth and accuracy of the information and confirming that all of the information requested by the Notice which is in the licensee’s possession, custody, control, or knowledge has been produced.

The FCC stated that to knowingly and willfully make any false statement or conceal any material fact in reply to this Notice is punishable by fine or imprisonment under Title 18 of the U.S. Code. It also stated that the Commission will use all relevant material information before it, including any information disclosed in his reply, to determine what, if any, enforcement action is required to ensure compliance. (FCC)

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RADIO LAW: CLIPS AIRED ON TV WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE ON-LINE CLOSED CAPTIONING

The FCC has voted unanimously to apply online closed captioning mandates to video clips that originally aired on TV. The mandate applies only to clips from programs that were originally captioned on TV, and only to sites owned or controlled by that TV distributor. It does not apply to library programming that predates the compliance deadlines. The new rules will be phased in gradually starting in January of 2016 with the process to be completed by July of 2017. The complete story is on the web at http://tinyurl.com/llt5sao (Multichannel News)

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HAM HAPPENINGS: FACEBOOK SAYS OK TO HAM CALLS AS ALTERNATE NAME

Officially licensed amateur radio operators may now use their call sign as their alternate name, or nickname, on their individual Facebook profiles. This thanks to Richard Bobbitt, NW7OR, who recently organized a petition drive on the social media site in the hope of achieving this goal.

It turned out that Jeff Ferland, KB1PNB, who works at the Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park, California found the petition on an amateur radio Facebook Group to which he belongs. After doing a bit of research Ferland wrote the necessary code, then got it reviewed and approved.

To add your call Bobitt says to go to go to “Settings”, then click on “Edit Your Name.” In the middle of the page you will see the words “Alternate Name.” That’s where you can add your callsign.

Bobbitt says that the petition was originally the idea of Richard Allcorn, KW7PTL, without whom, this may not have happened so easily and quickly. Over 1000 hams on Facebook signed the petition within the first week or so after it was posted on the various Facebook ham radio pages.
(NW7OR)

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HAM HAPPENINGS: RAC ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING JULY 27 IN WESTMINSTER BC

Radio Amateurs of Canada will be holding its 2014 Annual General Meeting on July 27th in New Westminster, British Columbia. This years gathering is being hosted by the Orca DX and Contest Club and will be held in conjunction with the 59th annual Vancouver Pacific Northwest DX Convention. The location is the Inn on the Quay in New Westminster. All Radio Amateurs of Canada members who can make the gathering are invited to attend. (RAC)

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HAM HAPPENINGS: UNESCO HERITAGE FLOWER PARADE FROM THE NETHERLANDS

The 73rd annual UNESCO Heritage Flower Parade will take place in the city of Zundert in the Netrherlands on September 7th. In celebration of this event, that nations national amateur radio society the VERON will activate the special callsigns PA73CORSO, PA73EBP and PA73LOU. All three calls will be operational between August 12th and September 8th from Zundert and surroundings. A special QSL card and an award will be available for contacting this event. Full information including QSL routing is on line at qrz.com/db/pa73corso. (Southgate)

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NAMES IN THE NEWS: K9CT JOINS NCDXF BOD

Some names in the news. First up is Craig Thompson, K9CT, who as been elected to the Board of Directors of the Northern California DX Foundation. In addition to normal director duties, K9CT will help the foundation to develop and execute a program for significant contributions through estate giving and tax planning. (W0GJ)

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NAMES IN THE NEWS: K6TW ELECTED TO TORRANCE CA CITY COUNCIL

Tim Goodrich, K6TW, has been elected to the Torrance, California City Council. Originally licensed as KC2DDS at the age of 17, Goodrich, now 34 holds an Extra Class license. At 18, he enlisted in the Air Force, where he served as a communications, navigation, and cryptological technician on the E-3 AWACS early warning system aircraft. During his time in the military, he was deployed to the Middle East on three occasions. This in support of the no fly zones over Iraq, Afghanistan, and the pre-war Iraq bombing. After finishing his military duty Goodrich went back to school, earning his Masters in Public Administration from Uthe University of Southern California. He also became active in his community, especially as a volunteer with the Torrance Police and Fire Departments doing communications and Community Emergency Response Team work. In his spare time, K6TW enjoys operating CW on the High Frequency bands and Summits on the Air activities. (ARRL)

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BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today’s radio amateur. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur:

(5 sec pause here)

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HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SURREY SPACE CENTRE ANNOUNCES UK CUBESAIL SATELLITE PROJECT

The United Kingdom’s Surrey Space Center is embarking on a very fasciunating new peoject that will include Amateur Radio as we hear from Newsline’s Heather Embee, KB3TZD:

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They are calling it CubeSail and describing it as an exciting, ground-breaking educational satellite project from the Surrey Space Centre. One that its builders hope to launch into a 680 kilometer Sun Synchronous Orbit sometime in December of this year.

CubeSail will be a 3 unit size CubeSat with a 6 kilogram mass. A key feature of this tiny bird will be its ability to deploy a 25 square meter sail structure. This will be used to demonstrate the propulsion effect of solar radiation pressure sometimes referred to as solar sailing. It will also show the increased de-orbiting capabilities of the sail as a drag augmentation device.

The satellite will provide beacons for which amateur radio operators will be able to receive. At the moment the designers are considering the use of a 9600 Bit-Per-Second AX.25 protocol on the downlink. The International Amateur Radio Union Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has already assigned CubeSail a downlink frequency of 435.240 MHz.


For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick, Pennsylvania.

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More about this rather exciting project is on the web at tinyurl.com/cubesail (AMSAT UK)

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RADIO IN SPACE: ISEE-3 THRUSTERS FAIL TO FIRE

NASA’s International Earth Sun Explorer also known as ISEE-3 will not be resuming its original mission after all. This after the citizen scientists, engineers and ham radio operators trying to rescue it discovered on July 9 that the almost four decade old space observatory’s propulsion system is no longer working.

According to Keith Cowing, who spearheaded the ISEE-3 Reboot Project along with Dennis Wingo, KD4ETA, there was no burn and no detected no acceleration after the July 9^th scheduled burn.

The failure may have come as a surprise to controllers. The spacecraft’s small hydrazine thrusters had been fired successfully on July 3rd and systems appeared nominal. And on July 8, the spacecrafts thrusters even managed to perform one of the six burns that would have set it up for a return to the orbit into which it was launched in 1978.

But all is not lost. Controllers at the ISEE-3 Reboot Project were able to place the spacecraft into its science mode using the big dish antenna at the Arecibo radio observatory in Puerto Rico. This will allow its instrument to collect data and radio it back to Earth for several months before it flies out of practical communications range.

In addition to Wingo, other hams who were involved in the ISEE-3 Reboot Project included Achim Vollhardt, DH2VA, and Mario Lorenz DL5MLO. (ARNewsline from published news reports)

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WORLDBEAT: CW OPERATORS NEEDED FOR UK WWI COMMEMORATIVE EVENT

Some skilled Morse operators are needed the weekend of July 28th and 27th to operate reproductions of World War One telegraph equipment for a special event in the United Kingdom. The replica telegraph equipment is being constructed by members of the Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club to be used in the event that commemorates the start of World War One, but there is a critical shortage of CW operators to demonstrate the stations. An UK ham willing to volunteer should contact G0GRI via the clubs website at radioclubs.net/trowbridgedarc.
(GB2RS)

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DX

In DX, word that RA0CHI will be active from Putiatina Island from July 20^th to the 30^th. Operations will be on 160 through 10 meters. QSL via his home callsign.

HA9MDN will be on the air stroke 9A from Vir Island between July 25th and August 3rd. Activity will be on SSB, RTTY, PSK and SSTV. QSL via his home callsign by the bureau or eQSL.

ZS6AYU, will be operational from Botswana as A25GF between September 1^st and the 3rd. This will be on 6 meters only expedition from Grid Square KH 22 and beaming North. He hopes to be on the air between 1300 until around 1900 UTC on 50.097 MHz CW. QSL via ZS6AYU, direct or by the bureau.

DL7VOA will be active as J34O from Grenada between November 22nd and December 6th. Activity will be holiday style and include the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest on November 29^th and 30^th. QSL via DL7VOA either direct or via the bureau.

TA1HZ reports that will be operating from Palau as T88HZ between October 24^th to the 30^th including the CQ World Wide SSB Contest. The log from this operation will be uploaded to Logbook of the World of the World as soon as time permits. QSL to TA1HZ direct or via the bureau. Paper QSL’s will be sent out in June 2016 via the bureau.

Lastly, listen out for station HS50RAST to be active through December 31^st to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand. QSL via E21EIC direct or electronically via Logbook to the World.

(This weeks DX news courtesy of OPDX)

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THAT FINAL ITEM: AMAZON ASKS FAA TO PERMIT DRONE PACKAGE DELIVERY TESTS

Amazon.com is asking the Federal Aviation Administration permission to field test drone aircraft as part of its plan to deliver packages to customers in 30 minutes or less. Amateur Radio Newsline’s Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has the rest of the story:

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In a letter to the FAA dated Wednesday, July 9th, Amazon.com said it is developing aerial vehicles as part of its previously announced Amazon Prime Air delivery service. It noted that these high tech delivery aircraft can travel over 50 miles per hour and carry loads of up to 5 pounds. The company noted that about 86 percent of its deliveries weigh 5 pounds or less.

The Federal Aviation Administration currently allows hobbyists and model aircraft makers limited privileges to fly remote controlled drones, but their commercial use is all but completely prohibited. Amazon is asking for an exemption to the ban so it can test its design for the proposed delivery service. The Seattle, Washington-based company says its drone testing will only take place over Amazon's private property, away from airports or areas with aviation activity and definitely away from military bases.

With Amazon’s paperwork now submitted, at this point, its all up to the FAA to decide.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I’m Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois.

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As many will remember, Amazon created a media frenzy last December when it outlined its plan to deliver packages using drone aircraft. While at the time some thought it to be a joke it turns out that the company is very serious in developing such a futuristic air delivery system. (Seattle Times; Other published news reports)

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NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the South African Radio League, the Southgate News, TwiT-TV, Australia's WIA News and you our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's™ only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350.

Before we go, a word of congratulations to the ARRL which is holding its Centenary Convention as this newscast goes to air. This gathering marks the 100^th anniversary of the League which is the official representative of United States radio amateurs to our government and to the world.

It is truly a remarkable achievement for any organization to last for 100 years but the ARRL has made the mark and is not looking back. So as the League moves into its second century of representation of the United States amateur radio service please permit us to add our thanks to the ARRL for what you have done and what you will do in the future. Without the ARRL its doubtful if any of us would be enjoying ham radio as we know it today.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors’ desk, I’m Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, in Victoria, Texas,saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

 

There used to be a lot of hang glider pilots in the So. Calif. area that were on 2 meters. When asked for their calls sometimes they would all give the same one!......we don't hear them anymore. Now with the popularity of model helicopters and "Quad-Copters", the potential for interferance to the ham bands is likely to happen again. Many of these model aircraft operate in the 70CM, 1.25CM and 6M ham bands. Most of the pilots of these aircraft do not bother to get licensed.
If Amazon has drones flying around delivering packages there will be mid-air collisions with piloted aircraft mostly helicopters that typically fly at lower altitudes. It's gonna be raining aluminum! The FAA needs to squelch this NOW!
FQZ

 

I don't think you have much to worry about there Chicken Little.

AMAZON: "Safety will be our top priority, and our vehicles will be built with multiple redundancies and designed to commercial aviation standards."



The FAA, Amazon and others are working on a safe, viable solution. There's lots of other info on the web addressing the same concerns.

Personally, I look forward to the evolution of this technology. And getting my pizza delivered in 5 minutes by a drone!

 

Due to a glitch in the system pizzas will not be delivered to your house... instead they will be delivered to my house...

And they best do something about those blades... some nimrod's gonna lose his fingers... maybe even his whole arm from the neck down.

Remember, its all fun till someone gits his eye poked out.

 

No chicken little......just a realist....it's a bad idea....we'll see....FQZ

 

I think the drone will just result in more thefts. Obviously the drone will just leave the package on someones lawn to be ripped off by the first Criminal to see it fly in. It is far better for people to hand a package to someone and have them sign for it.
But then if it is just HILLARY's book being delivered, no chance that will get stolen!

 

I don't recall ever signing for an Amazon delivery. Theft could happen with any package. I've come home to expensive orders sitting at my door, any of which could have been stolen.

You can bet Amazon has considered every issue we could. You can also bet done deliveries will happen, and not just with Amazon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98BIu9dpwHU

 

I think all of you are putting the cart in front of the horse -- so as to speak. Before any business in the USA can use drones for any reason the FAA needs to create rules to regulate them. If you follow aviation news you would know that the airlines, flight schools, and aviation experts are pushing for a total ban on commercial and even hobby use of these devices. Its going to be interesting to see who has the political power in this area.

 

William might be right. As of July 1st:

"Amazon's futuristic plans to have packages delivered to customers by drone have been grounded for the time being as the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made it clear they will not allow "model aircraft" to be used for "delivering packages to people for a fee."

Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/FAA-grounds-...2/articleID/350807/Default.aspx#ixzz38AM553BI

That's unfortunate. Yet on the 12th of July:
"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) limited permission to use drones in parts of San Diego County." (source)

So I'm guessing one commercial interest is somehow better than the other.


​

 

I agree with most of the posters that widespread commercial use of drones is a bad idea. Now low level activities in remote areas, such as powerline and pipeline surveys, or search and rescue missions, seem like reasonable uses. And it's likely that the police and military will always be given some authorizations. And personally I'd hate to see a total ban on a hobby; R/C aircraft flyers seem to have been very responsible airspace users. That said, as a private pilot I'm very concerned about some untrained person fooling around with one and flying it into an aircraft or building. (The situation seems a bit like what can happen when a kid plays with an "unloaded" gun.) Clearly regulation is needed, but I also agree that commercial interests can trump what makes sense. Just look at how BPL was pushed for years.