North Dakota's Air National Guard this fall will begin operating a practice range for drone aircraft, which will give pilots more practical training than they can get from simulators, the unit's commander said.The story lines are endless.
The Federal Aviation Administration has established blocks of restricted airspace for the training, located up to 10,000 feet above a spot near Camp Grafton South, between Devils Lake and Jamestown. The airspace is above about 9,300 acres of ground area.
Col. Rick Gibney, commander of the 119th Wing of the North Dakota Air National Guard, said he expects flights to begin in late September or early October.
The background for drone practice? Department of Homeland Security will use drones for "public safety."
Surveillance drones have a new mission.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) they will be used for “public safety.” Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the DHS, told a House Committee meeting on Homeland Security that the more than 30,000 drones that will be deployed into American skies are just arbitrarily watching out for US citizens.
modern version of 1984.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you, but 30,000 drones over the US seems a bit of overkill. The USAF (active, reserve, guard, whatever) must be thrilled with this new mission.
DeleteAnd amazing that it just so happens a large operational drone base is located in North Dakota.
30,000.
ReplyDeleteEqual to the people from Jamestown to devil's Lake. Good name.
Anon 1
Maybe like ships, they will start giving names to the drones. Maybe the government could charge to let you put your name or a corporate name on the side of a drone.
ReplyDeleteNBA players can now sport "small, tastefully" corporate logos on their jerseys. Five years from now, the NBA will look like NASCAR (as far as advertising goes. But I digress.
Have a great week. I can hardly wait to see the top stories coming out of the Bakken this week.
Drones the size of Mosquitos are on the way. Bites will kill. Really.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1
I agree that giving "Big Sis" at Homeland Security unrestricted use of drones is overkill. Furthermore, to the extent that Homeland Security attempts to use actual military equipment for civilian law enforcement, questions are raised as to whether the US constituion has been violated. If military equipment was used to catch cattle rustlers, then that was a potential violation of the US constitution. Watching the North Dakota/USA and Canadian border is legitimate in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteBut I also feel that is is wrong to paint with such a "broad brush" that is likely to lead readers to conclude that the recent set aside of ND Airspace for military use for Drone Training, is directly a result of Big Sis desire to increase Homeland Security use of drones.
Instead the record will show that this recent set aside of ND airspace has its origins from the 2005 Military Base closing act, which provided for the eventual conversion of Grand Forks air base and Fargo ND guard, to a mission equipped primarily with drones.
For more back ground details, use google and search for FR 76 72869 for the November 28 2011 notice of proposed rule making, and search for 77 FR 36907 for publication of the public comments submitted during the public input process, and for the final ruling dated 6/20/12.
I'm just impressed that again, North Dakota, has bragging rights to a pretty big piece of the drone program.
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