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FAA Program Tests Drones Flying Beyond Pilot's Line-of-Sight

Posted by timothy on from the direct-supervision dept.

itwbennett writes: FAA administrator Michael P. Huerta announced Wednesday a new Pathfinder Program under which the agency has partnered with three U.S. companies to explore three key types of unmanned operations, possibly paving the way for operations such as the aerial delivery of packages as proposed by companies like Amazon.com. One of the companies the FAA has partnered with is drone manufacturer PrecisionHawk, which will be surveying crops in rural areas using unmanned aircraft flying outside of the pilot's direct vision.

2 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. IAADP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    I am a UAV pilot, and routinely fly beyond line of sight. It works poorly, at best, and routinely has small issues that leave me convinced that it should not be allowed in civil airspace in the foreseeable future. People continue to think that these are harmless toys, but micro-UAVs are just as lethal as a fastball thrown by a professional. Think about 55 lbs, a large part battery, falling 500' on you. Not a pleasant thought. Not a toy.

  2. Re:Meh by GerardAtJob · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's already 3d printed in many cases...
    And you can already buy "VR" headset to turn around the camera...

    Man... where have you been all those years? ;)

    --
    I can't call that English ;-)