Re: CAA registration 'consultation'
Posted: 09 May 2019, 13:56
Everybody, please respond, it only takes a few minutes.
For what its worth (though I doubt that even collectively we will make any difference at all), here are my own inane ramblings:
Also here's my email to Baroness Vere of Norbiton, the Aviation Minister:
(with similar content)
To:
baroness.vere@dft.gov.uk
9 May at 14:33
Baroness,
I am emailing you in your capacity as Aviation Minister.
I have some serious concerns over the content of CAP1775 and the effect it will have on the hobby of aeromodelling.
There are many worrying aspects of which you will no doubt have been made aware, but I would like to emphasise just two:
Firstly the cost of the scheme.
My lifetime career has been with British Telecom in IT, beginning long before the arrival of the first PCs in 1980. I retired as Senior Networks and Security Designer where my job entailed designing internet datacentres such as Bletchley Park, Cardiff, and Edinburgh, and the design, costing and supervision of platform implementations. I personally designed two iterations of BT.com and I can therefore state with some authority that the proposed figure of 2.8M pa for the installation and operation of such a tiny database, is absolutely ludicrous to the point that one senses criminal appropriation of public money.
The proposed charge is based on a wildly optimistic view of 170k registrations.
Realistically, we all know that this is pure fantasy and will be unlikely to exceed a few tens of thousands. If the fee is to be calculated by dividing these massively inflated costs by a massively overestimated take-up, then it will far exceed the proposed £16.50.
Further, surely those who benefit from the proposed scheme should pay for it. Hobbyist model flyers and aeromodellers are not beneficiaries, in fact the opposite is the case, they are penalised by CAP1775 and in the case of under 18s are even prevented from taking part.
This brings me to my second serious concern, which is the deliberate exclusion of youngsters into aeromodelling. Ours is a noble, honourable and rewarding hobby from which youngsters benefit greatly. It teaches the safe use of tools, principles of engineering, and electronics, and also traits such as dexterity, patience and pride. This will be taken away completely by CAP1775 when under-18s are barred from legally owning a model aircraft. I am a strong advocate of STEM in schools (stem emphasises the practical application of science, technology, engineering & maths) and previously youngsters could take up aeromodelling as a practical and enjoyable extension of their STEM learning. CAP1775 prevents this, and for no good reason. In the entire history of aviation, when has a child with a model aeroplane caused any concern?
More than ever we should respect the contribution made by hobbyists to science and technology. Sir Frank Whittle was an aeromodeller, as was Neil Armstrong. Bill Gates was a hobbyist, and his ideas founded Microsoft. Clive Sinclair was a hobbyist before he gave the public affordable computing. Apple came from two hobbyists.
Rather than barring youngsters we should be encouraging them into practical and beneficial pastimes as there is no telling where it might lead!
Thank you for your time
Yours Sincerely
Phil Green
PS Dont copy mine, everyone has his own opinion!
For what its worth (though I doubt that even collectively we will make any difference at all), here are my own inane ramblings:
Also here's my email to Baroness Vere of Norbiton, the Aviation Minister:
(with similar content)
To:
baroness.vere@dft.gov.uk
9 May at 14:33
Baroness,
I am emailing you in your capacity as Aviation Minister.
I have some serious concerns over the content of CAP1775 and the effect it will have on the hobby of aeromodelling.
There are many worrying aspects of which you will no doubt have been made aware, but I would like to emphasise just two:
Firstly the cost of the scheme.
My lifetime career has been with British Telecom in IT, beginning long before the arrival of the first PCs in 1980. I retired as Senior Networks and Security Designer where my job entailed designing internet datacentres such as Bletchley Park, Cardiff, and Edinburgh, and the design, costing and supervision of platform implementations. I personally designed two iterations of BT.com and I can therefore state with some authority that the proposed figure of 2.8M pa for the installation and operation of such a tiny database, is absolutely ludicrous to the point that one senses criminal appropriation of public money.
The proposed charge is based on a wildly optimistic view of 170k registrations.
Realistically, we all know that this is pure fantasy and will be unlikely to exceed a few tens of thousands. If the fee is to be calculated by dividing these massively inflated costs by a massively overestimated take-up, then it will far exceed the proposed £16.50.
Further, surely those who benefit from the proposed scheme should pay for it. Hobbyist model flyers and aeromodellers are not beneficiaries, in fact the opposite is the case, they are penalised by CAP1775 and in the case of under 18s are even prevented from taking part.
This brings me to my second serious concern, which is the deliberate exclusion of youngsters into aeromodelling. Ours is a noble, honourable and rewarding hobby from which youngsters benefit greatly. It teaches the safe use of tools, principles of engineering, and electronics, and also traits such as dexterity, patience and pride. This will be taken away completely by CAP1775 when under-18s are barred from legally owning a model aircraft. I am a strong advocate of STEM in schools (stem emphasises the practical application of science, technology, engineering & maths) and previously youngsters could take up aeromodelling as a practical and enjoyable extension of their STEM learning. CAP1775 prevents this, and for no good reason. In the entire history of aviation, when has a child with a model aeroplane caused any concern?
More than ever we should respect the contribution made by hobbyists to science and technology. Sir Frank Whittle was an aeromodeller, as was Neil Armstrong. Bill Gates was a hobbyist, and his ideas founded Microsoft. Clive Sinclair was a hobbyist before he gave the public affordable computing. Apple came from two hobbyists.
Rather than barring youngsters we should be encouraging them into practical and beneficial pastimes as there is no telling where it might lead!
Thank you for your time
Yours Sincerely
Phil Green
PS Dont copy mine, everyone has his own opinion!