Pilotless Aircraft Approved for Texas Airspace
Beginning next month, more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will patrol portions
of the U.S.-Mexican border from Arizona to the El Paso area of Texas.
Three of the remotely piloted aircraft are already flying and the FAA
approved a certificate of authorization (COA) for the expanded flights.
A second COA is pending approval, championed in part by Texas
congressman Henry Cuellar, who cites a ramp up in border violence as
the reason for approving the surveillance flights. Approval of the
second COA would enable UAV flights over the remainder of the Texas
border — extending to the Gulf Coast. U.S. Customs and Border
Protection intends to cover all borders with the flights by 2015. Click here to read Lane Wallace's story about unmanned aircraft systems as seen in Flying.
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