Drone edition - a concern from the International Business Times:
FAA fears 1 million Americans will receive drones for Christmas and use them unwisely
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says that up to a million new consumer drones could be sold this Christmas, and it is terrified of what civilians with no air safety knowledge might do with them. Rich Swayze, the FAA's Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment told the Airlines for America (A4A) Commercial Aviation Industry Summit in Washington on 28 September that the state agency is rushing to implement a consumer education campaign before the holiday season begins in earnest.
"We're trying to get out and educate people about potential dangers," he told delegates, according to Aviation Week. "A lot of people who don't have a pilot background are operating these things in the airspace."
US retail giant Walmart is currently selling 19 different unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that range in price from $19.99 to $274.95 (£13.19 - £181.47), and the FAA will be sending a representative to a pre-Christmas staff meeting to educate salespeople on what they need to tell customers about the safe operation of drones.
The FAA is spreading a bit of FUD - Fear Uncertainty and Doubt - a classic tool to use when you do not have actual hard data to cite. The drones you buy from WalMart for $20 have a range that is measured in tens of feet and flight time of a few minutes. No way are these going to be entering flight paths. They are toys. The worst that can happen is a personal injury from collision.
The professional drones start at around $2,000 for a complete kit with extra batteries, spare propellers, camera and controller. No way would any owner of these imperil their investment or risk having it taken away. The fact of spending two grand motivates the buyer to self-educate.
Leave a comment