US approves drones for civilian use

http://rt.com/usa/us-drones-civilian-use-685/

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued certificates for two types of unmanned aircraft for civilian use. The move is expected to lead to the first approved commercial drone operation later this summer.
The two unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are the Scan Eagle X200 and Aero Vironment’s PUMA. They both measure around 4 ½ feet long, weighing less than 55 pounds, and have a wing span of ten and nine feet respectively.
Both the Scan Eagle and the PUMA received “restricted category type certificates”which permit aerial surveillance. Prior to the FAA’s decision, the only way the private sector could operate UAS in US airspace was by obtaining an experimental airworthiness certificate which specifically restricts commercial operations.
The PUMA is expected to support emergency response crews for wildlife surveillance and oil spill monitoring over the Beaufort Sea to the north of Canada and Alaska. The Scan Eagle will be used by a major energy company off the Alaskan Coast to survey ice floes and migrating whales in Arctic oil exploration areas.
The issuing of the certificates is seen as an important step to integrating UAS into US airspace. Both drone operations will meet the requirements of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which includes a mandate to increase Arctic UAS commercial operations.
Most non-military use of drones in the US has so far been limited to the police and other government agencies. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in March that drones will soon be used by the NYPD and will become as ubiquitous as security cameras. "

 

Image Courtesy http://www.screenused.com/

Anyone ever see Dark Angel with Jessica Alba? Of course there the Drones where 'Non-Lethal', except in the cases were they weren't. 'Oh? A Drone killed someone? Unbelievable, that just doesn't happen! All our Drones our Non-Lethal and only Observe.' Expect to hear that at some point.

If that is not enough to convince you that this is a potential danger, The FBI also admitted to flying Drones over the U.S. without Warrants.

http://www.examiner.com/article/fbi-admits-to-flying-drones-over-the-us-without-warrants

"FBI Assistant Director Stephen D. Kelly. Kelly admitted that the FBI used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the country without obtaining warrants. “The FBI uses UAVs in very limited circumstances to conduct surveillance when there is a specific, operational need,” the letter reads. “Since late 2006, the FBI has conducted surveillance using UAVs in eight criminal cases and two national security cases.”"

So when it rains it pours... It;s not that I am against the use of Drones 'per se', for fighting crime, but who draws the line on what crime is, when the U.S. Government and even some Local Law Enforcement seem hell-bent on criminalizing Honest Patriotic Citizens!?

It's only a matter of time before they start putting weapons on these Drones, (i.e. 'Civilian Use' or Law Enforcement Use). Granted it may not be projectile weapons innitially, but Tasers (Classified in Argentina by a Court as 'Torture' devices), may be the next step.

And we may see it in Miami with there MAVs (Micro Air Vehicles), http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/video-miami-police-plans-urban-test-of-honeywells-micro-uav-221686/.

Hoax you say? Micro AVs?? Nay I Say!
'They' The U.S. Military has MAVs that can Crawl, Hover and Perch too!
http://darkangelreport.com/UAV_Gallery.htm

The fact of the matter is, many of those in power in the U.S. at least seem to think or act like they have no rules and that the Laws do not apply to them.

This has been proven time and time again, when someone or some group or even Country is not wanted around anymore because they have or know or are willing to speak up about something that those in power do not want the rest of us aware of.

It is the essential mix needed for true Totalitarian power. 'Do as I say, Not as I do and by the way only say and do accepted things or else, and well not even then, will you be safe from the Long Arm of the Overseer!'

In the end Drone use against U.S. Citizens by it's Law and Policy makers and Military will not be used just for real crimes. As proven by current track records of National Surveillance Agencies, Some Law Enforcement and Military usage, but will also entail usage against us for any other reason not dictated by law.

Example: (As Pakistan for a reference), You are sitting in a cafe, a real or fictitious suspected 'Terrorist' is supposedly there. and suddenly a Drone strikes. You are now considered an Exceptable Loss. You may or may not have been the intended target, but you are now either severely injured or dead and are no longer a threat in any case. The news may or may not indicate that it was sad so many Non-Combatants were lost in the effort to take down 1 suspected 'Terrorist'.

Only Cowards hide behind others or things to fight their battles, right or wrong.
This also violates a persons Inalienable Rights.
Many don't seem to care about this anymore, but I and a few others still do.
Yes we need Law Enforcement to some degree in our World, No we don't need mindless machines doing the work for us.

http://www.newsytype.com/11606-automated-killer-drones/

Drones with No Human Counterpart, which make decisions by themselves about targets based on programming.

Yes also a Real-World thing, Sorry to burst your bubble.

So when they say no Human was responsible for 'the Killing', they will actually mean it, in a perverse sadistic sort of way.

R. William Holzkopf Jr.

P.S.

I woke up this morning with Wilson Philips Song 'Hold On' in my head. Not sure why, I haven't heard it in ages, quite literally.

But it seems fitting to the Drone Story since it was also slotted for me to see today.