The Rise of Recreational UAVs

1) UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) technology has been regarded by some industry experts as the most dynamic growth sector of  the aerospace in this decade (Cavoukian 2012). Heck even my uncle and cousin that live across the street just got little drones for Christmas and are out using them. Over the past 5 years the UAV community has evolved from strictly a military technology to becoming a recreational hobby (think RC planes) and even being used commercially as well (Amazon's Prime Air). If you YouTube or Google UAV videos you can find a ton of civilians using their purchased drone taking it to new heights especially with either a GoPro attached or some drones even come with cameras attached. Just this past year there was a video that was a huge internet hit where a man flew his drone into a large firework display and it was magnificent (here's the link for those interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9KZ3jgbbmI). UAVs were being used for hunting at one point but there has recently been an uprising against drone-assisted hunting in multiple states leading to them being banned. In a FOX News report multiple men from hunting groups claim that "the use of drones to aid in hunting is inappropriate and would essentially undermine the concept of fair-chase hunting" (FoxNews 2014). UAVs have recently become a problem near airports as well. Apparently some recreational users have been interfering with the airspace close to Washington International airport that it led the FAA to construct an NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) about small UAVs. In this NPRM, it proposes that, "unmanned aircraft systems weighing less than 55 pounds and not for recreational or hobby use and with necessary equipment for safe and efficient operation can be used in the national air space." The small UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) that could be used in accordance with this NPRM are as follows: crop monitoring/inspection, research & development, educational/academic uses, power-line/pipeline inspection in hilly or mountainous terrain, antenna inspection, aiding certain rescue operations such as locating snow avalanche victims, bridge inspections, aerial photography, and wildlife nesting area evaluations. Non-recreational use of UAS is accommodated by the FAA through the use of special airworthiness certificates, exemptions, and certificates of waiver or certificates of authorization (Foxx 2015). So far the FAA has published a requirement stating that "all owners of small unmanned aircraft or drones weighing between 0.55 and 55lbs must have it registered before taking to the skies" (knowbeforeyoufly.org).

2) I do see UAVs integrating into the National Airspace and I think the way it will be done is through altitude limitations. Already UAVs aren't supposed to be out of sight of their operator and I think that rule will try to remain to be enforced if they integrate into the NAS. When a UAV enthusiast registers their aircraft, I think it will evolve to the point where they are required to have some sort of GPS tracking system on them if there already isn't one. Either that or they simply limit the altitude that UAVs can operate (maybe strictly Class G airspace)? I imagine that it would further clutter the air space in the US but as long as people follow the rules and keep them away from airports I don't see why it would be a problem.

3) UAVs have greatly aided in our decreased human involvement when it comes to aerial bombing. According to an article written by Andrew Callam, "by October 19th, 2009 had conducted 41 strikes under President Obama compared with the same number over 3 years under former President Bush. The agency has conducted 11 strikes in Pakistan in the first month of 2010." In the military the offensive capabilities of the UAV has 3 broad operational concepts. The first being to suppress enemy air defense. Second, UAVs are used in combat to support counterinsurgency operations. Third, UAVs are used to find and eliminate targets in the field of combat (Callam 2010). Now that last concept is where things can get a little gray. What exactly is a target, and is eliminating the target worth the additional casualties that could come with it? In the article previously mentioned by Callam he starts with an anecdote about a 2009 drone strike that took out the alleged leader of the Pakistan Taliban. Great news yes, but not when you consider that prior to this drone strike there were 16 drone strikes in the 14 months leading up to this assassination dealing somewhere between 201 & 321 additional casualties. The main issue with military UAVs is that although the images they can see are at most times clear; without complete intelligence on the ground drones can (and have) lead to civilian casualties.

4) http://uavcoach.com/uav-jobs/ this website has a plethora of UAV job openings that range from actual pilots and operators to field representatives and product marketing positions. Also, if no one is aware, Eastern offers an elective in UAV and the class is titled: CET 273 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles so if you're stuck looking for classes to fill your schedule this is one I recommend checking out!

Works Cited

 Cavourkian, A. (2012, August). Publicsafety.gc.ca (Canada, Information and Privacy Commissioner). Retrieved February, 2016, from http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cnmcs-plcng/cn29822-eng.pdf

Fireworks filmed with a drone [Vid]. (2014, May 13). Drone Hub.

 Eyes in the air: States move to ban drone-assisted hunting | Fox News. (2014, March 25). Retrieved February 13, 2016, from http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/03/25/eyes-in-air-states-move-to-ban-drone-assisted-hunting.html

 Foxx, A. (2015). Operation and certification of small unmanned air systems (Vol. 80, Ser. 35, pp. 3-6) (United States, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration). Washington, DC: Federal Register. Retrieved February, 2016, from https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-02-23/pdf/2015-03544.pdf. 

 

Callam, A. (2010). Drone Wars: Armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. International Affairs Review, XVIII, 3rd ser. Retrieved February, 2016, from http://www.iar-gwu.org/node/144