UAVs along the US-Mexico border? How about your own back yard?

Peter Duniho wrote:
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/04/06...ch_survei.html

Just this week, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department began
using a drone called SkySeer for rescue operations and
tracking "persons of interest" during foot pursuits.


The BoingBoing crew are looking more at the privacy/civil-rights side of
things, but the issue is significant whatever your perspective.

Cool. Cheaper than the helicopters they are using for this now.

And, let's face it -- we all know what most people's back yards look
like by now, don't we?

"cjcampbell" wrote in message
ups.com...
Cool. Cheaper than the helicopters they are using for this now.

I agree that from an economics point of view, the UAVs make a lot of sense.
The article says as much.

And, let's face it -- we all know what most people's back yards look
like by now, don't we?

"We" meaning "pilots"? Sure, I suppose so. Technically speaking, a person
has no right to privacy for something out in the open, even if it's only
visible from the air.

Personally, I'm more concerned with the issue of unmanned aircraft running
around the skies at low altitudes. At 250 feet, they are lower than most of
us would fly, but who's going to ensure they stay away from approach and
departure flight paths of airports (especially uncontrolled airports)? And
ultralight and helicopter pilots certainly would have cause for concern.

IMHO, this is at least as significant as the question of UAVs flying along
the Mexico border.

Pete

On Thu, 6 Apr 2006 22:48:43 -0700, "Peter Duniho"
wrote in
::

I'm more concerned with the issue of unmanned aircraft running
around the skies at low altitudes.

It would be interesting to know the FAA's position on RC model
aircraft operations.

At 250 feet, they are lower than most of
us would fly, but who's going to ensure they stay away from approach and
departure flight paths of airports (especially uncontrolled airports)? And
ultralight and helicopter pilots certainly would have cause for concern.

Don't forget low level Military Training Routes. The SkySeer could be
a problem for the military there too.