But favor the government using them exclusively: Americans OK with police drones – private ownership, not so much: Poll | Reuters.
Wow. This survey demonstrates the remarkable effectiveness of propaganda in warping people’s minds, with one poll respondent saying radio controlled model aircraft are as dangerous as guns and illegal drugs.
While U.S. companies remain grounded by the FAA, a China-based company tests package delivery via small drones in China!
(Bloomberg) — Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is making its first trial drone deliveries in China, as e-commerce rival Amazon.com Inc. struggles to start a similar program in the U.S.
via Alibaba Drones Fly Over Beijing While Amazon Pleads for U.S. Tests – Bloomberg Business.
The FAA has issued a statement to local law enforcement on “guidance for suspected unauthorized UAS operations“.
The guidance notes that recreational model aircraft operations are mostly exempt from this directive but that any commercial operation of a radio controlled model aircraft must be done only by a licensed pilot, the aircraft must have an airworthiness certificate, a valid registration N- number and/or an FAA Certificate of Waiver Authorization.
Specifically, local police are encouraged to “stop and talk” to “suspected violators” (which means anyone with a radio controlled airplane) – stepping into a zone of potential intimidation and harassment to thwart the use of radio control model aircraft in the U.S.
The FAA is seeking to have local police enforce Federal rules and regulations through detection and using methods to deter UAS operation, and if necessary, to investigate UAS usage including conducting witness interviews and collecting evidence against operators (which implies that the unspecified methods to “deter” include intimidation and harassment.)
Letter – FAA_UAS-PO_LEA_Guidance.pdf.
As many are aware, small radio controlled model aircraft are a popular platform for shooting aerial photos and videos. Radio controlled model aircraft have been flown by hobbyists for many decades. Even the use of model airplanes for picture taking has been done for a very long time.
Note: The FAA has defined aircraft so broadly as to now include kites, balloons on strings, and some paper airplanes (see page 2).
UAS America Fund Files FAA Petition for Rulemaking on “Micro” Drones – DRONELIFE.
Main points – they hired expert from Exponent Engineering (formerly Failure Analysis Associates) who evaluated bird strike – aircraft data and finds small r/c aircraft are a minimal threat to aircraft based on the FAA’s own data. (The US Airways flight that landed in the Hudson River ingested a flock of birds, not a single bird.)
I jog past an airport that is routinely crossed by huge flocks of Canada geese and other large water fowl. There are flights of flocks with hundreds to a thousand or more birds that go across the airport and across the final approach course.
Carry a pocketable drone with you all the time? Have a drone in your Pocket – DronePowers.
