Will Safety Issues Ground Police Use of Unmanned Drones?

By: Brian Heaton on February 07, 2012

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Unmanned aircraft can provide a number of tactical advantages for police, particularly in situations that require stealthy observation. But as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) works on proposed regulations for these vehicles, aviation experts believe safety issues still need to be addressed before widespread use takes off.

Chief among those concerns is the absence of a pilot to make decisions if an in-flight emergency arises. Whether it’s a computer malfunction or a potential for collision with another object, the lack of a pilot in the cockpit to respond to a situation could have disastrous consequences when it comes to safety both in the air and on the ground.

Interest in unmanned drones – officially known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) – is growing among law enforcement agencies, which see the technology as an effective method for expanding surveillance and enforcement activities.

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Miami Police Might Want Unmanned Drone for Surveillance

Brian Heaton

E-mail: bheaton@govtech.com

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