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FAA Has Authorized 106 Government ‘Entities’ to Fly Domestic Drones
(CNSNews.com) – Since Jan. 1 of this year, according to congressional testimony presented Thursday by the Government Accountability Office, the Federal Aviation Administration has authorized 106 federal, state and local government “entities” to fly “unmanned aircraft systems,” also known as drones, within U.S. airspace.
“We are now on the edge of a new horizon: using unmanned aerial systems within the homeland,” House Homeland Security Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Michael McCaul (R.-Texas) said as he introduced the testimony.
“Currently,” said McCaul, “there are about 200 active Certificates of Authorization issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to over 100 different entities, such as law enforcement departments and academic institutions, to fly drones domestically.”
At his panel’s Thursday hearing, McCaul showed a map of the United States with markers indicating the locations where–as of April–government entities had been approved by the FAA to fly drones.
“The number of recipients since that time has increased,” McCaul noted.
GAO testified that the FAA’s long-term goal is to permit drones to operate in U.S. airspace “to the greatest extent possible.”
The proliferation of domestic drones, GAO said, raises a number of issues, the first of which is the right to privacy.
h/t MJA
Dianne
July 23rd, 2012
Is there some way we can have them take out the corrupt element that has taken over the WH?
citizenjane
July 23rd, 2012
Skeet.
Corona
July 24th, 2012
Did they ever realize that Conservatives could eventually have control of these drones? “Find libtard. Eat its face. Rinse & repeat.”
MaryfromMarin
July 24th, 2012
Questions that arise:
Can drones “see” through solar panels?
Can they fly low enough to look through windows?
Can drones swerve to avoid foliage?
At what speed do they fly? Is the speed variable?
What do they look like?
_________________
It’s sort of like being cursed with external microchips.
norman einstein
July 24th, 2012
Anybody notice a pattern where those markers are concentrated?
http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Screen-Shot-2012-07-19-at-6.42.54-PM.png
sig94
July 24th, 2012
I have flown in police choppers. I think drones will be used in much the same way: looking for half nekked girls sunning themselves by a backyard pool. I anticipate the first time some nitwit operator puts a drone through the windshield of a Cessna and crashes it.
Cruisin' Cat
July 24th, 2012
Skynet is coming…
Bob M.
July 24th, 2012
So when We The People begin shooting them down, are we considered an “Ace” after 5 kills – like gummint pilots are?
>:-(
old_oaks
July 24th, 2012
These things are freaky scary once you see one for about an hour and half or about 100 miles of road through AZ and NM. IT had our vehicle in sight (because I could see it) the whole way. It was just looking to infringe upon someone!
ThisObamaNation
July 24th, 2012
The Secret Service Admits That They Would Protect Putin Against The American People If He Were President.
Then The Secret Service Hangs Up On Caller, Who Called To Tell The Secret Service That Obama’s Identity Documents Need To Be Investigated.
The FBI Hangs Up And Blocks Calls When Caller Asks Them To Investigate Obama
From Before It’s News
SHOCK AUDIO: Recorded Calls To Secret Service & FBI Demanding Obama Investigation
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/2424/226/SHOCK_AUDIO:_Recorded_Calls_To_Secret
The Recorded Calls Are About 54 Minutes Into The Broadcast, And They Are Unbelievable!
Johnny Monday
July 24th, 2012
The loss of freedom in the USA is happening faster than I ever expected. Makes me glad I’m at least in the second half of my life.