UAVs

[skier]

All we need to do is keep painting UAV pilots as ignorant, irresponsible and untrained idiots that don't have anyone's safety in mind

I think this is taking it a bit far. UAV pilots are obviously trained for the missions they perform. The question isn't so much about the pilots themselves as much as the aircraft they pilot. The question comes down to are they equipped with the technology necessary to safely integrate with the national air space system as it stands now and are they are safe to fly above the general population.

If they are not equipped with the technology necessary to safely integrate with the current air traffic, there are two options:
1. require that they develop a way to see and avoid other traffic (the basis of our current airspace system)
2. put the burden on the rest of the air traffic and require something like ADS-B out and require that the UAVs have the capability interpret that information.

Once we have found a way to integrate them safely with the existing traffic, we need to ensure they are safe to fly over the general population and that they won't be falling out of the sky (unlikely) and won't be having more engine failures that normal aircraft (through a certification process like part 23 or even requiring a 40 hour test phase like experimental aircraft). If they do have an engine failure or loss of connection with the pilot, they need the ability to safely guide themselves (or be guided) to a landing or crash away from people on the ground.