A recent post on Wildfire today tells us about an important effort to help with one of the drawbacks of electric aviation† While drones are an important part of replacing dirty gas-powered (and often lead-based) aviation, as well as other fossil fuel-fired aviation, their unique size and ease of purchase pose some tough challenges for regulators. Like many other technologies, they can be used for both good and evil.
One of the evil uses of drones goes hand in hand with climate change. While we’re seeing more fires as areas dry out and experience more lightning, we’re also seeing people with a drone want to watch the fire. Not only do wildfires make for compelling photos, but it’s just cool to get a bird’s eye view. But the airspace needed to get that neat view also means planes participating in firefighting can’t fly safely and stay grounded until the drone goes away.
The risks for pilots require avoiding the area, but the risks to property and life on the ground remain. So people can be killed if this happens enough.
For this reason, the FAA started setting up “no fly zones” for drone operators near wildfires, and these temporary airspace restrictions often apply to other aircraft to keep things safe from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that drop water and fire retardants onto the flames. But to be aware of these restrictions, you need to know the rules first. Amateurs who have taken the TRUST test (now required) and professionals who have taken their Part 107 test both know to check for airspace restrictions before flying, and this is often easy to do with smartphone apps.
But there are always people who don’t know the rules or don’t care. Banning civilian drones is not an option, as we would have to give up important benefits such as reduced emissions and saved lives. In addition, many people were able to build their own drones at home, even if they were illegal. So law enforcement had to be smart and come up with other ways to deal with the remaining threat from the ignorant and the unwary.
Now the FBI claims to have equipment to immediately detect drones flying illegally in the area and quickly track down their operators. They reportedly told CNN†
“When the detection equipment finds the drone and identifies the operator’s location, we can get that information very quickly to a ground intercept team, who can then contact that drone operator and essentially have them stop flying that drone, said James Peaco III, the weapons of mass destruction coordinator at the FBI’s Los Angeles field office.
With a special sensor, the team can set a boundary as large or as small as desired and get notified if a drone flies into that area, instantly providing accurate details such as altitude, direction, speed, and where the drone took off and where. the controller is currently standing.
“The first thing we do is order them to bring the drone back, explain to him that there is a wildfire and that flying that drone during a wildfire is actually a federal offense,” Peaco said.
So if the rules and important security considerations aren’t enough, hopefully the heightened threat of getting caught (and facing a federal crime) will be enough to stop people from doing stupid things with consumer drones.
Featured image by US Forest Service (Public Domain).
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