“I’ve been interested in aviation all my life. I flew control line model airplanes in my youth, and years later obtained my private pilots license. It wasn’t until I retired from work in 2007 that I got really interested in RC model airplanes. I met a group of guys that flew pretty much every morning at a local field. The planes we flew were all small electric powered, mostly home assembled from kits. I was soon almost obsessed with the hobby. Within a couple years I had built more than 10 planes, but the most important thing was the friendships I had made with this group of guys that shared a common passion and the time we spent together outdoors flying planes and enjoying life. There were about 15 of us in the ‘morning group’ of flyers. There was a much larger group that flew in the evenings and on weekends. In our small city, there were other similar fields where groups of flyers met, as well as several organized clubs where mostly larger gas powered model aircraft were being flown. The point I’m trying to make here is that there is a huge number of people across the country who are passionate about this hobby. They are heavily invested in time and money, but more so in the friendships and bonds they maintain through this hobby. The proposed regulations If enacted are going needlessly hurt a lot of people. Around five years ago we moved to be closer to our granddaughters, and one of the hardest things for me was giving up my mornings with my flying buddies. I’ve now become interested in multi rotors, specifically fpv quadcopters. My son and I joined a local club that focuses a lot on drone racing. All of our quadcopters are custom built, something that would not be allowed under the proposed regulations. My son and I, now fly mostly in my back yard or at club races, so in limited areas and close to the ground. Everyone I have encountered in this hobby is focused on flying safely. I understand that there are some pilots that are not, but taking away the ability of millions of hobbyists to safely enjoy this hobby because of the actions of a few is not right or fair. This is not the way things have been done in the United States! Besides, those that want to fly unsafely, are not going to adhere to the regulations. A set of rules that works for everyone can be established. Perhaps hobbyists will need to fly under a set altitude and within a certain distance from the pilot. This is pretty much what hobbyists are doing now anyway. Local ordinances should dictate where hobbyists can fly, as long as they are flying safely under the established rules. Those that fly unsafely outside the established rules should be caught and punished.”