On Sat, 14 Jan 2006 02:18:31 GMT, Larry Dighera
wrote in ::

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:48:51 -0800, Richard Riley
wrote in
::

That's what the whole Access 5 program is about - being able to fly
UAV's in the airspace *without* impacting other traffic.

However, that is not what is occurring with regard to the UAV Mexico
border patrol. In fact, to my knowledge, the UAV manufacturers have
not yet demonstrated a synthetic vision system adequate to permit UAVs
to comply with FAA see-and-avoid regulations.

To move forward deploying UAVs in domestic airspace is, as a result of
that failure, is irresponsible at best, if not negligent. And the
federal government's complicity in bilking the American people of
millions of dollars in UAV funding is a travesty and reveals the
current lack of fiscal responsibility.

The money is better spent putting more agents in the field and
implementing effective deportation policies; that's where the problems
are.

Apparently, I'm not the only one with concerns about the new UAV TFRs:

-------------------------------------------------------------
AOPA ePilot Volume 8, Issue 2 January 13, 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------

AOPA QUESTIONS FAA'S UAV TFR ON MEXICAN BORDER
The FAA last Friday suddenly, and somewhat unexpectedly,
established a temporary flight restriction (TFR) area near
Nogales, Arizona, along the Mexican border for unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) flights. "There has been an ongoing discussion
regarding TFRs for U.S. Customs UAV border patrol operations. But
the unexpected, immediate implementation of this TFR raises
concerns that federal officials have not taken into
consideration the impact that this kind of TFR has on general
aviation," said Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president of
regulatory affairs. "The association staff is meeting this week
with the FAA, Homeland Security, and other security officials to
take up the issue." This isn't the first time AOPA has raised
concerns about UAV operations in airspace shared with general
aviation. AOPA has insisted consistently that unmanned aerial
vehicles be able to detect and avoid other aircraft at least as
well as "see-and-avoid" tactics for manned aircraft. Currently,
UAVs can't do that. And that's why UAVs need TFRs to cover their
operations. But then that raises the possibility of widespread
TFRs usurping civilian airspace. AOPA will fight that. See AOPA
Online
( http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...060109uav.html ).