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Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 08:14 PM Feb 2012

Congress Calls for Accelerated Use of Drones in U.S.

February 3rd, 2012 by Steven Aftergood

A House-Senate conference report this week called on the Administration to accelerate the use of civilian unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or “drones,” in U.S. airspace.

The pending authorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration directs the Secretary of Transporation to develop within nine months “a comprehensive plan to safely accelerate the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system.”

“The plan… shall provide for the safe integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system as soon as practicable, but not later than September 30, 2015.”

The conference bill, which still awaits final passage, also calls for establishment of UAS test ranges in cooperation with NASA and the Department of Defense, expanded use of UAS in the Arctic region, development of guidance for the operation of public unmanned aircraft systems, and new safety research to assess the risk of “catastrophic failure of the unmanned aircraft that would endanger other aircraft in the national airspace system.”

MORE...

http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2012/02/faa_drones.html

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Congress Calls for Accelerated Use of Drones in U.S. (Original Post) Purveyor Feb 2012 OP
This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Feb 2012 #1
They're not talking about ARMED drones. nt TheWraith Feb 2012 #3
Oh, give 'em time. MadHound Feb 2012 #6
Ratchet down the paranoia. TheWraith Feb 2012 #19
For now... Stay tuned. eom Purveyor Feb 2012 #7
Exactly, they're talking about civilian drones n/t arcane1 Feb 2012 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author Tesha Feb 2012 #11
Congress calls for accelerated RULES ON SAFE use of drones in US. TheWraith Feb 2012 #2
So what's your opinion on the use of drones in general? Cali_Democrat Feb 2012 #4
hang on I have to go check in with my boss to see what he tells me to think. limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #13
Federal, state, and local governments already conduct constant surveillance flights. TheWraith Feb 2012 #18
I know that. We also already have them on the border. Cali_Democrat Feb 2012 #23
thanks, were you able to get the OP link to work? SunsetDreams Feb 2012 #5
“catastrophic failure of the unmanned aircraft that would endanger other aircraft"...... IDemo Feb 2012 #9
How can someone support drones which will eventually be armed and oppose the right jody Feb 2012 #10
Every block will have a drone-hive with armed drones that can be commanded from HQ at need.. Fumesucker Feb 2012 #14
Why not go Green and train killer bees? nt jody Feb 2012 #15
There are some things even killer bees won't do? Fumesucker Feb 2012 #16
I concede! nt jody Feb 2012 #17
This is my opinions on the use of drones for surveillance or otherwise in the US: It stinks! limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #12
I agree. We ran this country just fine for two hundred years without Cleita Feb 2012 #21
They're a right, like the Internet. I want mine. saras Feb 2012 #20
I always thought it was awful when gun enthusiasts would shoot birds out of the sky. Cleita Feb 2012 #22
"In the national airspace system" What about the fucking rest of us, not to mention further lonestarnot Feb 2012 #24

Response to Purveyor (Original post)

TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
19. Ratchet down the paranoia.
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 09:18 PM
Feb 2012

That same attitude is the one that belonged to the people who kept telling me years back that Bush was going to cancel the 2004 elections and make himself dictator for life.

Response to TheWraith (Reply #3)

TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
2. Congress calls for accelerated RULES ON SAFE use of drones in US.
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 08:17 PM
Feb 2012

There, corrected that headline. Because unmanned aircraft (more serious than RC models) are already extensively used by hobbyists around the country, and I'd be surprised if there aren't any in commercial use. There's just no particular rules governing them.

 

Cali_Democrat

(30,439 posts)
4. So what's your opinion on the use of drones in general?
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 08:19 PM
Feb 2012

Do you think Federal, state and local governments should be allowed to use drones over the US for surveillance purposes?

TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
18. Federal, state, and local governments already conduct constant surveillance flights.
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 09:16 PM
Feb 2012

If you ever wondered why there's more helicopter traffic in the fall, that's why--they're looking for marijuana groves.

 

Cali_Democrat

(30,439 posts)
23. I know that. We also already have them on the border.
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 10:19 PM
Feb 2012

Do you think it should be allowed? Do you support the use of domestic drones by federal, state and local governments?

SunsetDreams

(8,571 posts)
5. thanks, were you able to get the OP link to work?
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 08:19 PM
Feb 2012

Edit: I'm just getting about:blank

Never mind lol working now

IDemo

(16,926 posts)
9. “catastrophic failure of the unmanned aircraft that would endanger other aircraft"......
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 08:22 PM
Feb 2012

So no concerns about people on the ground (other than how well they photograph, that is)?


 

jody

(26,624 posts)
10. How can someone support drones which will eventually be armed and oppose the right
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 08:26 PM
Feb 2012

to keep and bear arms for self defense when seconds count and police are only minutes or hours away?

Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)
14. Every block will have a drone-hive with armed drones that can be commanded from HQ at need..
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 08:40 PM
Feb 2012

Something like these perhaps, quantity has a quality all its own.

http://www.golem.de/news/drohne-quadcopter-schwaermen-in-formation-1202-89515.html

limpyhobbler

(8,244 posts)
12. This is my opinions on the use of drones for surveillance or otherwise in the US: It stinks!
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 08:32 PM
Feb 2012

I'm against drones in the cities and over our countryside. It's not because I think it's the end of the world or anything. I simply would rather not live in a world where drones are patrolling. I hate the idea of drones. We've made it this long without them. I'm sure we can live another 100 years without them.

Congresspersons pushing drones on local police are probably looking forward to a big fat paycheck from the drone manufacturers when they get out of congress.

In so in conclusion, screw these drones in the USA.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
21. I agree. We ran this country just fine for two hundred years without
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 09:26 PM
Feb 2012

the need for all this surveillance that technology allows government snoops to use today.

 

saras

(6,670 posts)
20. They're a right, like the Internet. I want mine.
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 09:21 PM
Feb 2012

I could send them to the store for me. I could check up on the dahlias. I could bird-watch up close. Maybe I could get them to get pears in the huge pear trees. Long-distance ones could make FedEx obsolete. Little bitty ones could fight off yellow jackets and keep them away from our summer picnics.

Yeah, I want my own drones. It won't be long before CheapCrapFromChina,Inc has them on the market.

Cleita

(75,480 posts)
22. I always thought it was awful when gun enthusiasts would shoot birds out of the sky.
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 09:33 PM
Feb 2012

However, this could be fun. It could give bird shooting enthusiasts a whole new focus for their sick recreation.

 

lonestarnot

(77,097 posts)
24. "In the national airspace system" What about the fucking rest of us, not to mention further
Fri Feb 3, 2012, 10:23 PM
Feb 2012

intrusion.

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