Tech | June 14, 2010 | 19 comments

FAA Under Pressure to Open US Skies to Drones

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rodstradamus
WASHINGTON (AP) - Unmanned aircraft have proved their usefulness and reliability in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq. Now the pressure's on to allow them in the skies over the United States.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been asked to issue flying rights for a range of pilotless planes to carry out civilian and law-enforcement functions but has been hesitant to act. Officials are worried that they might plow into airliners, cargo planes and corporate jets that zoom around at high altitudes, or helicopters and hot air balloons that fly as low as a few hundred feet off the ground.

On top of that, these pilotless aircraft come in a variety of sizes. Some are as big as a small airliner, others the size of a backpack. The tiniest are small enough to fly through a house window.

more at link...

So, about a year ago I reported on drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia and stated that it was only a matter of time before they have them flying our 'friendly' skies, but I was called a "crazy, tin-foil nutter," but that's ok...I've done the research and knowledge is power.

Today, drones are mostly used for blowing women and children to bits by some pimple-faced geek with a PlayStation controller, but don't worry, they don't want to kill you. LOL

"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither." Benjamin Franklin
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19 comments // FAA Under Pressure to Open US Skies to Drones

  • ninetyseven
  • Andy1142
    • +1
      Andy1142  
    • these will be a nightmare to track for FAA. It's already too difficult to balance the heavy load of planes nearly missing each other. I don't believe our government needs any more ways of spying on its citizens either.

    • 1 year ago
  • Animal_Chin
    • 0
      Animal_Chin  
    • I'm not saying the apocalypse is upon us, but if you are a Fallout 3 fan, it might be a good investment to hang on to your bottle caps.

    • 1 year ago
  • manfreddrake
  • FoosMaster
    • 0
      FoosMaster  
    • If they have Only cameras, no weapons, and can resolve the issue of air traffic and hacking and only allow Local Police, NO FEDERAL AGENCIES, to use them for criminal apprehension, I am OK with it. But ALL of those conditions need to be met BEFORE allowing them!

      Sadly, our society allows TOO many breaches of the individual’s right to privacy in order to show results in criminal investigations and I feel this will be allowed without the necessary restrictions to protect the public.

    • 1 year ago
  • Tayllerand
  • hearnnick
    • +1
      hearnnick  
    • ummm they have proven useful in warzones...... so why not leave them there unless obama is saying the us is a warzone? but how can it be a warzone every is obeying their slave master right???? oh wait not every cause i dont, :D

    • 1 year ago
  • currentlyreading
    • +1
      currentlyreading  
    • I remember a few years ago, that on Current commentators including myself were talking about how Bush is turning the U.S. into a police state. Well, I never thought that someone could one up Bush on the task especially someone that I voted for. Drones now that would be overkill.

    • 1 year ago
  • Zwiggle
  • ozoneocean
    • 0
      ozoneocean  
    • In the end, there's no difference between someone dying because they're killed by an unmanned drone, air-strike from a manned fighter, suicide bomb, a soldier's assault rifle, or a police 9mm.

      When you're dead, you're dead. The morality of using them in Afghanistan is the same as that of the entire war itself.

      ------------------------
      Using them in the continental US the only problem is that they will be an air traffic hazard.

    • 1 year ago
  • EmperorThan
  • EmperorThan
  • idealist
  • freecrack
    • 0
      freecrack  
    • what could go wrong right..............famous last words
      remember the end of terminater 3 its getting a lil too close for my liking

    • 1 year ago
  • Buddha2112
  • Earl_of_Edmonds
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