FAA grounds L.A. sheriff's drone plans

FAA grounds L.A. sheriff's drone plans

The Los Angeles County sheriff's plan to use small, remote-controlled planes to track criminals and look for lost hikers has been temporarily grounded by federal officials worried about air safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration won't authorize the drones until it investigates a demonstration the sheriff's department conducted last week, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said. She said agency officials told the sheriff's department it needed their authorization before flying the drones to ensure they don't interfere with other aircraft. The department could face disciplinary action over the demonstration.

Sheriff's officials described the controversy as a simple misunderstanding. "A private citizen can go to the store and buy one of those model airplanes and fly them around. But because we're doing it as a public service, we have to deal with the FAA?" said Sheriff's Cmdr. Sid Heal. The 5-pound, 3-foot-long drones cost $20,000 to $30,000 each and can beam video images 250 feet to deputies below.

(snip)

Privacy advocates worry law enforcement will use the drones to spy on people — a concern officials said is unwarranted.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060622/ap_on_re_us/los_angeles_drone

I posted a thread on this yesterday, but it ended up in the dungeon.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/20/AR2006062001403.html

...Four airplanes, including a type used in a James Bond movie, will fly low over the Washington region today, tomorrow and Friday to help compile radar information, the Defense Department announced yesterday.

The planes are a Dassault Falcon 20, a DeHavilland DH6, an Inventus radio-controlled craft and the BD-5J, which is less than 13 feet long and is known as a microjet. Bond flew one through a hangar to make an escape in the film "Octopussy."...

Inventus radio-controlled would be a drone. What about the rest?

I remember the helicopters on the roof of the Pan Am building. It just doesn't seem to be a good idea to be flying things over people's heads.

the Falcon 20 is used by the Coast Guard for surveillance, I haven't been able to dig up much on the DeHavilland. Homeland Security has purchased some BD-5J's.

Falcon 20:



DH-6 (Twin Otter):



The BD-5J is a Bede Aircraft Microjet:



The Inventus is a UAV manufactured by Lew Aerospace:

things over NYC. Anything that flies over people and buildings is potentially dangerous. Just because it is relatively small doesn't mean it can't be lethal when if falls.

It just strikes me as a bad idea in a populated area.

..."A private citizen can go to the store and buy one of those model airplanes and fly them around. But because we're doing it as a public service, we have to deal with the FAA?" said Sheriff's Cmdr. Sid Heal...

I have a feeling Sid Heal would be complaining if a private citizen was flying a drone over his area.

And you don't want to destroy your plane against some building during wind sheer, but people fly RC planes daily everywhere...over highways, taking pictures...I had a friend fly his around the Arch back in the day when I lived in Missouri, (takeoff from the IL side :) )

Her's something close to what I flew a couple years back...

SPECIFICATIONS
Stock Number: GPMA1044
Wingspan: 82 in (2085 mm)
Wing Area: 1293 in2 (83.4 dm2)
Weight: 13-14.5 lb (5850-6575 g)
Wing Loading: 23-25 oz/ft2 (70-79 g/dm2)
Length: 72 in (1820 mm)
Requires: 2- or 4-stroke 1.20-2.00 (20-32 cc) glow or 2.00 (32 cc) gasoline engine, 4-5 channel radio w/5-7 servos, fuel and support equipment

I wouldn't be happy with someone flying that over my head. I'll bet a license isn't even required.

As a pedestrian, I just see things flying overhead as a threat. I've been less than happy when things flew out windows and landed right in front of my feet. Better in front of my feet than on my head. I know accidents happen, but I'd rather avoid them.

It was a thirty man predawn raid, on this 61 year old Malibu rancher's 200 acre property. They were looking for 3000 non existent marijuana plants. This claim was based upon "bogus" aerial surveillance. This tragic story is a must read. http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/scott_20010731.html

You will be shocked. And its true.... no embelishments.. I have no doubt the sheriff would be up to all kinds of bullshit with this drone.