Says Improved Sensors May Help Situation A Little
Pilots in the South have had to deal with them for over a
year... now, pilots flying near the northern US border may have to
share airspace with unmanned drones, too. Representatives with the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, however, tell ANN the
409,000-member-strong organization is continuing its efforts to
ensure general aviation pilots aren't put at risk by the unmanned
aircraft, or needlessly inconvenienced.
As Aero-News reported
Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
recently announced a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) could
start patrolling a section of the US-Canada border by this fall,
launching from Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
"While we know that the DHS eventually intends to deploy
Predators along the northern border, our talks with the FAA this
week revealed that there is no official timetable for starting the
flights, nor has Homeland Security obtained a certificate of
authorization from the FAA allowing their UAVs to fly northern
patrols," said Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president of regulatory
affairs.
"And before they do fly, we'll work with the FAA to make sure
that safety is maintained."
On the subject of safety -- as well as inconvenience to pilots
-- there may actually be some good news when it comes to UAVs
flying along the Canadian border.
"When CBP replaced the
Predator that was lost while patroling the
US-Mexican border last year, they obtained a version
with a better sensor package, and have been able to operate above
FL180 in positive control airspace, with fairly short TFRs imposed
only long enough for the UAV to transition from the ground to Class
A and back again," AOPA told ANN this week. "Until UAVs can
demonstrate an equivalent level of safety -- including sense and
avoid capabilities -- as manned aircraft, that seems to be a much
better solution than all night, every night TFRs."
Rudinger says there is another issue, though. Along the Mexico
border, Predators are launched and recovered through existing
special-use airspace -- meaning GA pilots typically aren't
inconvenienced, except when told to stay out of the operations
area. There are no such restricted or prohibited areas near Grand
Forks, however... nor does AOPA want the government to add any.
"AOPA would oppose any new special-use airspace created solely
for UAV border patrols," said Rudinger.
A Customs and Border Protection spokesman told AOPA late Tuesday
the northern patrol was a pilot program mandated by Congress, and
only one Predator UAV will be flying to start. Specific details --
including a timetable, and airspace requirements -- have yet to be
established.
The agency would like to start flying patrols by September.