Researchers say FAA is really overblowing risk posed by small drones
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/03/researchers-say-faa-is-really-overblowing-risk-posed-by-small-drones/
The Federal Aviation Administration has pushed forward strict
rules for the operation of small consumer drones. Drones
weighing more than 250 grams (a little more than half a pound)
will have to be registered with the FAA, and there are
restrictions on where they can be flown. The regulations are
largely prompted by fears that the toy-sized flyers will pose a
danger to commercial and civil aircraft--fears that new research
suggests are unfounded. That research, shown in a study just
published by George Mason University's Mercatus Center, was
based on damage to aircraft from another sort of small, uncrewed
aircraft--flying birds. Much of the fear around drones hitting
aircraft has been driven by FAA reports from pilots who have
claimed near-misses with small drones. But an investigation last
year by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) found that of the
764 near-miss incidents with drones recorded by the FAA, only 27
of them--3.5 percent--actually were near misses. The rest were
just sightings, and those were often sightings that took place
when drone operators were following the rules. The FAA also
overcounted, including reports where the pilot said explicitly
that there was no near miss and some where the flying object
wasn't identified, leading the AMA to accuse the FAA of
exaggerating the threat in order to get support for its
anti-drone agenda.
- - -
The government exaggerating threats to push forward an agenda. I'm
shocked, simply shocked!
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein ([email protected]): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
I have consulted to Google, but I am not currently
doing so -- my opinions expressed here are mine alone.
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