Office of the Ombudsman
100 Metcalfe Street 12th Floor
Ottawa Ontario
K1P 5M1
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am a senior citizen living in XXXXXX
I retired in 2004, I have observed quite a few of my fellow seniors die prematurely due to lack of things to do, (couch potatoes, lack of hobbies).
A couple of us seniors have been flying model aeroplanes, (and building model aeroplanes), for the last 25 years. Good recreation for seniors.
Transport Canada made new rules for model flying in 2019. Virtually no one flying models could get a model aeroplane pilots license. People who had been flying model aeroplanes for 50 years could not pass the exam! Here is what we have to know, please click on the link, it is lengthy;
https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/pu...-within-visual-line-sight-vlos-tp-15263#toc-1
There is no way we, 84 to 90 year olds would have much chance of passing the exam.
Drone Pilots association of Canada survey:
45% of model aeroplane flyers are 60+ years of age, 75% have no aviation experience, 63% say the regulations have nothing to do with model aircraft or safety.
Link:
Model aeroplanes have been flying for much more than 100 years without needing Transport Canada regulations.
I live at; XXXXX
I spend a lot of winter hours building simple model aeroplanes from Dollar Store foam board, all weighing less than 1kg. Transport Canada says that I am a safety hazard. The basis of their rules is the safety of aeroplanes.
I give you my address to show where I live which is beside the Grand Forks airport. The reason for this is to explain that Transport Canada is grossly exaggerating the safety hazard from our hobby. Because I live close to the airport I see already, ( March 15), canada geese flying over both ends of the airport. Later during the spring, fall, I see flocks of over 100 geese, (I have counted) flying over the airport. Geese can weigh over 6lbs! Transport Canada says I am a hazard to aircraft at 1lb 5 miles away flying my model under 400feet ! I don’t have a problem obeying rules but their rules have absolutely no logic whatsoever.
Transport Canada has a phone number to phone in case of a runaway RC plane, when I see a flock of geese flying over the runway should I report this to Transport Canada as a goose 100 times or as a flock!!!
I think Transport Canada is trying to
BAN all model flying!!! For no reason.
Or Gov. of Canada wants to get rid of
SENIORS by having them die off by taking away our hobby?
Hoping to hear your opinion on this subject.
Also would like a logical explanation of why they are banning us.
Sincerely;