From Click2Houston.com:
HOUSTON -The founder of Texas EquuSearch, Tim Miller, plans to
fight the Federal Aviation Administration's attempts to prohibit the
use of drones in searches for missing people. Miller said he has hired
an attorney and plans to sue if the FAA if it does not back down from a
recent order prohibiting the volunteer organization from using the
unmanned aircraft in search operations.
"You know, we're not flying in somebody's backyard, looking at their girlfriend laying in their bikini," said Miller.
Miller
said he began battling the FAA on this issue two years ago during a
search for a missing girl in Indiana. Miller said during that search
officials with the FAA told local law enforcement to stop EquuSearch
from using a drone.
"The lead investigator said if we even take it out of its case he will arrest us," said Miller....read Click2Houston.com story here.
Source: Peace River K9 Search & Rescue Association, Inc.
I'm a big supporter of commercial use of UAVs.
ReplyDeleteHowever, UAVs are not toys, and we should not treat them as such. The FAA (and Transport Canada) have every right to regulate the industry. Without regulation, and control, these things are going to cause accidents and deaths. However much trust you put into your control systems and the anecdotes of how many lives they have saved (or may save), there are an equal number of stories of how people have lost control of them - a failed radio, interference, or a software/firmware bug.
Let's not mistake that without regulation, and enforcement, we run the risk of a crack down and outright ban on flying ANYTHING.
Work with the regulator, not against them.
Unfortunately for you in the US, your government has decided not to allow an easy path to approved use, unlike Canada and the UK. Best of luck.
We're working on a pilot program here in British Columbia, and have several certified operators willing to provide UAV services at an hourly rate. This is the model we are proposing to our regulators, similar to how we conduct helicopter operations now -- fully trained, commercial UAV pilots working for insured and certified companies.