Sun, Oct 02, 2011
Mica: Answer Is Not More Regulation
While some may call for an increase in regulations following the
uncovering of a plot to attempt to use model airplanes to attack
the Capitol and the Pentagon, the chair of the House Transportation
Committee which oversees the FAA says regulating hobbyists is not
the answer.
Confiscated F-86 Model, DOJ Image
According to a report on Forbes.com, both counter-terrorism
experts and those who fly model airplanes agree that it would be
very difficult to mount a large-scale attack using model planes.
Academy of Model Aeronautics technical director Greg Hahn told
Forbes that the idea of inflicting significant damage to a building
like the Pentagon using model airplanes is "kind of a joke."
An explosives expert said that while the models could carry enough
explosive to inflict "serious damage" to something like a car,
getting it to detonate correctly would be "hugely difficult."
And while FAA is devising new rules for model airplanes and
other UAVs to prevent collisions, both the prosecutor who handled
the case of Richard Reid's attempted shoe-bombing and the
chair of the House Transportation Committee say increased
regulations for model airplane enthusiasts is not the answer.
Representative John Mica (R-FL) told Forbes.com that better
intelligence is the key to stopping such potential threats, not
regulations on "hobbyists and their toys."
But Massachusetts prosecutor Gerry Leone said law enforcement
might "want to be more vigilant" about the purchase of model
airplanes.
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