Why do they want an AWB?

[The Annoyed Man]

I can think of beneficial ways that UAVs can be used. For instance, UAVs would make it possible to provide aerial monitoring of forest/brush fires without exposing flight crews to the dangers of flying through smoke over dangerous terrain. Commercial fishing fleets with ship born processing factories currently use helicopters to locate schools of fish. Might it not be cheaper and easier to deploy a UAV for the same purpose? So it's not UAVs per se that is at issue, anymore than it is for any other tool which can be used for good or evil. When governments uses them to either spy on, or to attack their own citizens, that's the issue.

[ajwakeboarder]

Point taken... But, when they can take a picture from 30,000 and count your nose hairs, I don;t think they will be low enough for us to complain.

BTW, I used to be in and out of Waco for RAM and an Annual by a local guy on a 421.

True, and won't be low enough to shoot at either. Waco Regional? I'm studying at TSTC. Right now i'm studying for my end of course for my private. I've seen a 421 come into our airport a few times. Those are really nice planes. I'd love to fly one someday.

[Dave2]

I can think of beneficial ways that UAVs can be used. For instance, UAVs would make it possible to provide aerial monitoring of forest/brush fires without exposing flight crews to the dangers of flying through smoke over dangerous terrain. Commercial fishing fleets with ship born processing factories currently use helicopters to locate schools of fish. Might it not be cheaper and easier to deploy a UAV for the same purpose? So it's not UAVs per se that is at issue, anymore than it is for any other tool which can be used for good or evil. When governments uses them to either spy on, or to attack their own citizens, that's the issue.

Yeah, I think the two main issues are that they're small & quiet enough to bring up privacy concerns, and when they're armed they might make it a bit too easy for the government (or hackers) to "accidentally" kill someone.

[ajwakeboarder]

Yeah, I think the two main issues are that they're small & quiet enough to bring up privacy concerns, and when they're armed they might make it a bit too easy for the government (or hackers) to "accidentally" kill someone.

You might find this sections from a recent faa notice interesting

Dropping Objects/Expendable Stores or Hazardous Materials. If the intended UAS operation includes the carriage, dropping, or spraying of aircraft stores outside of active Restricted or Warning Area airspace designated for aviation use, or approved Prohibited Areas, the proponent must ensure that specific approval is listed in the special provisions, the operational risks have been sufficiently mitigated as required by 14 CFR § 91.15, and that the hazardous material requirements in 49 CFR have been met. Acceptable procedures for hung stores and loss of control link while carrying stores must be provided to the FAA. A similar case must be made for hazardous materials carried aboard the aircraft and, if approved, will be listed in the special provision section of the COA.

What Hazardous Materials would a UAV need to carry?

[VMI77]

How many privacy fences do you see around back yards? People just do not care for the feeling somebody is watching them on their own private property. How many people in control of the commercial drones will be tempted to use one for purposes other than what is intended? Who would know if they did? How would you identify one and know for sure whose it was? The statement the President made that no drone had ever been used to fire on an American on American soil is telling. He does not say it NEVER will. He simply states a fact of history. Well at some point you could say lots of things had not been done that are being done now.

You may not know unless they use the information for some purpose. Not a bit of doubt in my mind that there will be photos of nude sun bathers posted on the internet and shot by drones of people in their own backyards.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I think the two main issues are that they're small & quiet enough to bring up privacy concerns, and when they're armed they might make it a bit too easy for the government (or hackers) to "accidentally" kill someone.

You might find this sections from a recent faa notice interesting

Dropping Objects/Expendable Stores or Hazardous Materials. If the intended UAS operation includes the carriage, dropping, or spraying of aircraft stores outside of active Restricted or Warning Area airspace designated for aviation use, or approved Prohibited Areas, the proponent must ensure that specific approval is listed in the special provisions, the operational risks have been sufficiently mitigated as required by 14 CFR § 91.15, and that the hazardous material requirements in 49 CFR have been met. Acceptable procedures for hung stores and loss of control link while carrying stores must be provided to the FAA. A similar case must be made for hazardous materials carried aboard the aircraft and, if approved, will be listed in the special provision section of the COA.

What Hazardous Materials would a UAV need to carry?

Air expendable stores in military aircraft are usually flares and/or chaff not weapons. Location indicating or illumination flares along with marking dies are what I've heard most often discussed in regards these "expendable stores'. These stores would be used in remote areas to guide CBP agents or insure identification of alien border penetrators. Safety is of course at the forefront of FAA mandates, so insuring that a UAV didn't drop some WP or luminescent dye over a Texas subdivision should be job 1. YMMV

[The Annoyed Man]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -full.html
Al Qaeda's 22 tips for how to dodge a drone attack.

[Dave2]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -full.html
Al Qaeda's 22 tips for how to dodge a drone attack.

Wow... They think their snipers can hit airborne moving targets at 6km? That seems a bit... optimistic.

[lrpettit]

Yeah, I think the two main issues are that they're small & quiet enough to bring up privacy concerns, and when they're armed they might make it a bit too easy for the government (or hackers) to "accidentally" kill someone.

You might find this sections from a recent faa notice interesting

Dropping Objects/Expendable Stores or Hazardous Materials. If the intended UAS operation includes the carriage, dropping, or spraying of aircraft stores outside of active Restricted or Warning Area airspace designated for aviation use, or approved Prohibited Areas, the proponent must ensure that specific approval is listed in the special provisions, the operational risks have been sufficiently mitigated as required by 14 CFR § 91.15, and that the hazardous material requirements in 49 CFR have been met. Acceptable procedures for hung stores and loss of control link while carrying stores must be provided to the FAA. A similar case must be made for hazardous materials carried aboard the aircraft and, if approved, will be listed in the special provision section of the COA.

What Hazardous Materials would a UAV need to carry?

Crop Dusting?