Replies to This Discussion

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on May 13, 2009 at 7:36am

It's technically feasible but as you'll learn if you google around a bit, the FAA won't let you use it. They've shut down other police departments who used UAVs without FAA permission, and that permission is almost impossible to get.

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by Sgt Ric on May 13, 2009 at 10:59am

Like Chris said, it is nigh impossible in the states.
Many fire and police depts have tried, and all reported back here with bad news.

The Draganfly quadcopter you saw is featured for use here in Canada (we are years BEHIND in the levels of bureaucracy and red tape I guess, ...hah,hah)

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Permalink Reply by wayne garris on May 13, 2009 at 11:37am

Yes , it is possible, however flying over populated areas will not be allowed by the FAA for a while . The main thing is to respect the FAA and apply for a COA .

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Permalink Reply by Rory Paul on May 13, 2009 at 3:43pm

@Wayne

You do not happen to be offering that as a service would you? You could respect the FAA for me as well as fill out the 4 cartons of paper work for the application...oh just to have them deny it...but with the utmost respect ; )

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Permalink Reply by wayne garris on May 13, 2009 at 5:06pm

har har !!
ya i know the FAA is a red tape night mare . but that's how they roll .
apparently the FAA's response to the LAPD when they tried to fly last summer was "if you would have applied for a COA we would have said yes", sounds like my dad after i took off with the car.
Condor i just might have a paying job for you . send me a PM about your UAVs capabilities ect and how soon you could be ready.

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Permalink Reply by Jody C on May 15, 2009 at 3:54pm

thanks for the feedback guys, depressing but at least I know a little bit more now.

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Permalink Reply by bGatti on May 15, 2009 at 5:59pm

I think we've missed a detail, Jody is not in LA (ie largest metro area in like the whole damn world) - with a flotilla of news helis circling the wreckage of a gaggle of medical helicopters after they crashed in mid air.

If this concept of the UAV as apoor man's Heli is ever going to get off the ground, I suspect it is going to be
a town like his which is too god-forsaken to have police helis chasing news helis away from medical heli crash sites. (no offense to anyone out there).

Rather than run Jody off, I submit we should take up a collection to make sure he gets his/hers damn UAV. And we should pitch in to get the freaken FAA's BS forms filled out.

Then we'd have a real case of the poor city getting the shaft because they can't afford a Heli, and the FAA won't let them fly a foam toy because its afraid of it's own shadow. Hell, I'll contribute the price of an Ardupilot and fill out one page of the BS form, if we can pull together and make Jody C the first responder to use a UAV to spot a meth lab in Po-Dunk South Carolina.

Ben

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