And With The Drones, Comes The Threat Of New TFRs
It's about to get a lot more crowded in the skies over the
United States/Canada border, as the US government is poised to
begin flying Predator unmanned surveillance planes along the entire
5,500-mile stretch between the two countries.
The Winnipeg Free Press reports one drone should be flying
before September of this year, from a Customs and Border Protection
outpost in Grand Forks, ND. More will be coming... which could
spell trouble for pilots flying between the two countries, as the
unmanned vehicles pose a potential safety problem to other aircraft
due to their lack of "see-and-avoid" anti-collision equipment
(read, actual pilots onboard -- Ed.)
Past deployments of UAVs along the US-Mexico border meant far-reaching TFRs within the areas of
operation... a scenario that would be especially
problematic farther north, as more pilots regularly fly between the
US and Canada than they do to and from Mexico.
Officials say the UAVs are a vital measure to safeguard vast
stretches of the largely remote border region, and to prevent
persons attempting to enter the country illegally from slipping
through.
"Just one of the wrong
people getting through, driving through our border area, could
spell catastrophe," said Scott Baker, the newly installed CBP Chief
Patrol Agent in Grand Forks. "So, it is a concern."
Baker notes UAVs have flown similar missions along the US-Mexico
border for several years, mostly to detect illegal immigrants
coming across the border. However, those flights along the Mexican
border were halted after a Predator B drone crashed in southern
Arizona last April. The accompanying TFR
disappeared, as well.
Despite that accident, officials -- mostly American politicians
-- tout the enhanced security, coverage, and safety the Predators
could provide to CBP agents working along the vast Canadian border.
They also point to the Predator's successful record in combat
theaters such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Doug Marshall, director of Project Development at the University
of North Dakota's Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, says when
it comes to the Canadian border, the concern is less about
immigration than potential terrorists "finding a way to get into
Canada and then finding it relatively easy to get across the (US)
border. And it is easier. That's just a fact."
In addition to the Predators, CBP agents in North Dakota will
also get 22 pilots to fly manned missions in airplanes and
helicopters. Other deployment centers will be in Bellingham, WA;
Great Falls, MT; and Plattsburgh, NY.
One Canadian defense analyst told the Free Press news of the UAV
deployment may surprise other Canadians.
"Didn't we have the longest undefended border for a very, very
long time?" said Ian Glenn, chairman of ING Engineering.
"It (the Predator) is just a robot that flies," Glenn added.
"And they're going to drive it up and down the border and look for
things. Will that be a deterrent to criminal activity? Yes. Will it
be a deterrent to terrorist activity? Yes, I guess."
A ringing endorsement, that...