RIP School Survival Forums
August 2001 - June 2017

The School Survival Forums are permanently retired. If you need help with quitting school, unsupportive parents or anything else, there is a list of resources on the Help Page.

If you want to write about your experiences in school, you can write on our blog.

To everyone who joined these forums at some point, and got discouraged by the negativity and left after a while (or even got literally scared off): I'm sorry.

I wasn't good enough at encouraging people to be kinder, and removing people who refuse to be kind. Encouraging people is hard, and removing people creates conflict, and I hate conflict... so that's why I wasn't better at it.

I was a very, very sensitive teen. The atmosphere of this forum as it is now, if it had existed in 1996, would probably have upset me far more than it would have helped.

I can handle quite a lot of negativity and even abuse now, but that isn't the point. I want to help people. I want to help the people who need it the most, and I want to help people like the 1996 version of me.

I'm still figuring out the best way to do that, but as it is now, these forums are doing more harm than good, and I can't keep running them.

Thank you to the few people who have tried to understand my point of view so far. I really, really appreciate you guys. You are beautiful people.

Everyone else: If after everything I've said so far, you still don't understand my motivations, I think it's unlikely that you will. We're just too different. Maybe someday in the future it might make sense, but until then, there's no point in arguing about it. I don't have the time or the energy for arguing anymore. I will focus my time and energy on people who support me, and those who need help.

-SoulRiser

The forums are mostly read-only and are in a maintenance/testing phase, before being permanently archived. Please use this time to get the contact details of people you'd like to keep in touch with. My contact details are here.

Please do not make a mirror copy of the forums in their current state - things will still change, and some people have requested to be able to edit or delete some of their personal info.


Post Reply 
 
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones
Author Message
HeartofShadows Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 8,556
Joined: Dec 2006
Thanks: 0
Given 80 thank(s) in 73 post(s)
Post: #1
FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

Quote:ASHINGTON — Unmanned aircraft have proved their usefulness and reliability in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq. Now the pressure's on to allow them in the skies over the United States.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been asked to issue flying rights for a range of pilotless planes to carry out civilian and law-enforcement functions but has been hesitant to act. Officials are worried that they might plow into airliners, cargo planes and corporate jets that zoom around at high altitudes, or helicopters and hot air balloons that fly as low as a few hundred feet off the ground.

On top of that, these pilotless aircraft come in a variety of sizes. Some are as big as a small airliner, others the size of a backpack. The tiniest are small enough to fly through a house window.

The obvious risks have not deterred the civilian demand for pilotless planes. Tornado researchers want to send them into storms to gather data. Energy companies want to use them to monitor pipelines. State police hope to send them up to capture images of speeding cars' license plates. Local police envision using them to track fleeing suspects.

Like many robots, the planes have advantages over humans for jobs that are dirty, dangerous or dull. And the planes often cost less than piloted aircraft and can stay aloft far longer.

"There is a tremendous pressure and need to fly unmanned aircraft in (civilian) airspace," Hank Krakowski, FAA's head of air traffic operations, told European aviation officials recently. "We are having constant conversations and discussions, particularly with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, to figure out how we can do this safely with all these different sizes of vehicles."

There are two types of unmanned planes: Drones, which are automated planes programmed to fly a particular mission, and aircraft that are remotely controlled by someone on the ground, sometimes from thousands of miles away.

Last year, the FAA promised defense officials it would have a plan this year. The agency, which has worked on this issue since 2006, has reams of safety regulations that govern every aspect of civilian aviation but is just beginning to write regulations for unmanned aircraft.

"I think industry and some of the operators are frustrated that we're not moving fast enough, but safety is first," Krakowski said in an interview. "This isn't Afghanistan. This isn't Iraq. This is a part of the world that has a lot of light airplanes flying around, a lot of business jets."

One major concern is the prospect of lost communication between unmanned aircraft and the operators who remotely control them. Another is a lack of firm separation of aircraft at lower altitudes, away from major cities and airports. Planes entering these areas are not required to have collision warning systems or even transponders. Simply being able to see another plane and take action is the chief means of preventing accidents.

The Predator B, already in use for border patrol, can fly for 20 hours without refueling, compared with a helicopter's average flight time of just over two hours. Homeland Security wants to expand their use along the borders of Mexico and Canada, and along coastlines for spotting smugglers of drugs and illegal aliens. The Coast Guard wants to use them for search and rescue.

The National Transportation Safety Board held a forum in 2008 on safety concerns associated with pilotless aircraft after a Predator crashed in Arizona. The board concluded the ground operator remotely controlling the plane had inadvertently cut off the plane's fuel.

Texas officials, including Gov. Rick Perry, Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, and Rep. Henry Cuellar, have been leaning on the FAA to approve requests to use unmanned aircraft along the Texas-Mexico border.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has told lawmakers that safety concerns are behind the delays. Cornyn is blocking a Senate confirmation vote on President Barack Obama's nominee for the No. 2 FAA job, Michael Huerta, to keep the pressure on.

Other lawmakers want an overall plan to speed up use of the planes beyond the border. A bill approved by the Senate gives FAA a year to come up with a plan; a House version extends the deadline until Sept. 30, 2013, but directs the transportation secretary to give unmanned aircraft permission to fly before the plan is complete, if that can be done safely.

Marion Blakey, a former FAA administrator and president of the Aerospace Industries Association, whose members include unmanned aircraft developers, said the agency has been granting approvals on a case by case basis but the pace is picking up.

Some concerns will be alleviated when the FAA moves from a radar-based air traffic control system to one based on GPS technology. Then, every aircraft will be able to advise controllers and other aircraft of their location continually. However, that's a decade off.

Michael Barr, a University of Southern California aviation safety instructor, said the matter should not be rushed.

"All it takes is one catastrophe," Barr said. "They'll investigate, find they didn't do it correctly, there'll be an outcry and it will set them back years."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... AD9GAULR02

[Image: WARZONES_subs_hostility.png]
image hosting jpg
06-19-2010 12:51 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
The Desert Fox Offline
Waging war with conviction

Posts: 12,061
Joined: Jul 2008
Thanks: 3
Given 102 thank(s) in 75 post(s)
Post: #2
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

Big Brother loves you...

Hidden stuff:
(11-27-2011 01:00 PM)psychopath Wrote:  
(11-27-2011 10:52 AM)Efs Wrote:  Our Army is more professional than Amerika. Smile
Except ours isn't allowed to have guns
CrayolaColours Wrote:That post owned. TDF wins post of the year.
Faby Wrote:
krissy Wrote:dessert fox
Mmm, flambéed vulpine.
"There is no enemy, there is no victory, only boys who lost their lives in the sand."
[/center]
06-19-2010 04:25 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
AWOL Offline
The Spooning Bard

Posts: 8,487
Joined: Mar 2008
Thanks: 0
Given 36 thank(s) in 34 post(s)
Post: #3
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

What about privacy?

[Image: 9be30a7.png]
[Image: LyingFloraBanner.jpg]
06-19-2010 08:14 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
The Desert Fox Offline
Waging war with conviction

Posts: 12,061
Joined: Jul 2008
Thanks: 3
Given 102 thank(s) in 75 post(s)
Post: #4
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

AWOL Wrote:What about privacy?
Since when does the government care about that?

Hidden stuff:
(11-27-2011 01:00 PM)psychopath Wrote:  
(11-27-2011 10:52 AM)Efs Wrote:  Our Army is more professional than Amerika. Smile
Except ours isn't allowed to have guns
CrayolaColours Wrote:That post owned. TDF wins post of the year.
Faby Wrote:
krissy Wrote:dessert fox
Mmm, flambéed vulpine.
"There is no enemy, there is no victory, only boys who lost their lives in the sand."
[/center]
06-19-2010 09:02 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Ceiling Cat Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 3,630
Joined: Nov 2009
Thanks: 0
Given 18 thank(s) in 15 post(s)
Post: #5
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

I'm all for it as long as I have the right to swat the fucker down if I feel like it's snooping on my private property.
Thank FSM my country's too primitive to use drones.

Problem, officer?
Hidden stuff:
TrueAnarchist Wrote:and to think, i could be yiffing a hot vixen right about now
CrayolaColours Wrote:He just admitted today that he spent two hours...errr... shaking hands with the Bishop afterwards.
The Desert Fox Wrote:I thought when I downloaded it it was already emulated.
zagix Wrote:I'm stuck to the fagarena because I'm a fag
CrayolaColours Wrote:Woman up, will you? Grow a damn pussy and get over yourselves.
06-19-2010 09:06 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
The Desert Fox Offline
Waging war with conviction

Posts: 12,061
Joined: Jul 2008
Thanks: 3
Given 102 thank(s) in 75 post(s)
Post: #6
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

Ceiling Cat Wrote:I'm all for it as long as I have the right to swat the fucker down if I feel like it's snooping on my private property.
Last I checked they're flying at a few hundred feet, so unless you have a Stinger heat seeking missile, good luck taking it down.

Hidden stuff:
(11-27-2011 01:00 PM)psychopath Wrote:  
(11-27-2011 10:52 AM)Efs Wrote:  Our Army is more professional than Amerika. Smile
Except ours isn't allowed to have guns
CrayolaColours Wrote:That post owned. TDF wins post of the year.
Faby Wrote:
krissy Wrote:dessert fox
Mmm, flambéed vulpine.
"There is no enemy, there is no victory, only boys who lost their lives in the sand."
[/center]
06-19-2010 09:10 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
HeartofShadows Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 8,556
Joined: Dec 2006
Thanks: 0
Given 80 thank(s) in 73 post(s)
Post: #7
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

Not to mention those things are armed..

[Image: WARZONES_subs_hostility.png]
image hosting jpg
06-20-2010 04:16 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Akai Offline
Revolutionary

Posts: 130
Joined: Jun 2010
Thanks: 0
Given 0 thank(s) in 0 post(s)
Post: #8
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

[Image: half-life-2-city-scanner.jpg]

[Image: hack.jpg]

That is all I have to contribute for now.

06-20-2010 07:30 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
AWOL Offline
The Spooning Bard

Posts: 8,487
Joined: Mar 2008
Thanks: 0
Given 36 thank(s) in 34 post(s)
Post: #9
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

The Desert Fox Wrote:
AWOL Wrote:What about privacy?
Since when does the government care about that?
Good point...
The Desert Fox Wrote:
Ceiling Cat Wrote:I'm all for it as long as I have the right to swat the fucker down if I feel like it's snooping on my private property.
Last I checked they're flying at a few hundred feet, so unless you have a Stinger heat seeking missile, good luck taking it down.
They can't infringe on your privacy much at a few hundred feet.

[Image: 9be30a7.png]
[Image: LyingFloraBanner.jpg]
06-20-2010 02:17 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
The Desert Fox Offline
Waging war with conviction

Posts: 12,061
Joined: Jul 2008
Thanks: 3
Given 102 thank(s) in 75 post(s)
Post: #10
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

AWOL Wrote:
The Desert Fox Wrote:
Ceiling Cat Wrote:I'm all for it as long as I have the right to swat the fucker down if I feel like it's snooping on my private property.
Last I checked they're flying at a few hundred feet, so unless you have a Stinger heat seeking missile, good luck taking it down.
They can't infringe on your privacy much at a few hundred feet.
Zooming cameras.
Akai Wrote:[Image: half-life-2-city-scanner.jpg]

[Image: hack.jpg]
Welcome. Welcome to City 17...

Hidden stuff:
(11-27-2011 01:00 PM)psychopath Wrote:  
(11-27-2011 10:52 AM)Efs Wrote:  Our Army is more professional than Amerika. Smile
Except ours isn't allowed to have guns
CrayolaColours Wrote:That post owned. TDF wins post of the year.
Faby Wrote:
krissy Wrote:dessert fox
Mmm, flambéed vulpine.
"There is no enemy, there is no victory, only boys who lost their lives in the sand."
[/center]
07-01-2010 06:21 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
John Tuttle Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 2,665
Joined: May 2008
Thanks: 0
Given 5 thank(s) in 5 post(s)
Post: #11
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

HeartofShadows Wrote:Not to mention those things are armed..

You do realize that they are not proposing to fly Reaper drones over Ohio, right? They simply want to replace piloted aircraft with drones for certain scenarios. As long as they are not armed, I say go for it. They are no worse than piloted craft.

[Image: funny-gifs-wax-on-wax-owl.gif]
07-01-2010 09:05 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
John Tuttle Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 2,665
Joined: May 2008
Thanks: 0
Given 5 thank(s) in 5 post(s)
Post: #12
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

HeartofShadows Wrote:Not to mention those things are armed..

You do realize that they are not proposing to fly Reaper drones over Ohio, right? They simply want to replace piloted aircraft with drones for certain scenarios. As long as they are not armed, I say go for it. They are no worse than piloted craft.

[Image: funny-gifs-wax-on-wax-owl.gif]
07-01-2010 09:05 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
LOON_ATTIC Offline
A NERD

Posts: 5,158
Joined: May 2009
Thanks: 9
Given 60 thank(s) in 49 post(s)
Post: #13
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

The Desert Fox Wrote:Zooming cameras.
Satellites, anyone?

[Image: glorious666.png]
07-01-2010 06:45 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Absnt Offline
Fanatic

Posts: 6,075
Joined: Dec 2009
Thanks: 13
Given 184 thank(s) in 127 post(s)
Post: #14
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

It was demonstrated to PBS a few years back that satellites could place a laser on a window and record the vibrations from speech, piece it together and understand what the people in the room were saying. Yeah, I think we are pretty much fucked... I'm still opposed to letting any type of drones in. It can only worsen the spying.

Blog I post to now:
http://blog.darknedgy.net

Edfreedom.org -- An organization for more freedom in education.
http://www.edfreedom.org/join-us/
07-01-2010 06:53 PM
Visit this user's website Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
AWOL Offline
The Spooning Bard

Posts: 8,487
Joined: Mar 2008
Thanks: 0
Given 36 thank(s) in 34 post(s)
Post: #15
Re: FAA under pressure to open US skies to drones

Absentinsomniac Wrote:It was demonstrated to PBS a few years back that satellites could place a laser on a window and record the vibrations from speech, piece it together and understand what the people in the room were saying. Yeah, I think we are pretty much fucked... I'm still opposed to letting any type of drones in. It can only worsen the spying.
That is so fucking cool.

[Image: 9be30a7.png]
[Image: LyingFloraBanner.jpg]
07-02-2010 07:34 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread: Author Replies: Views: Last Post
  Drones...Right Above our Heads!! sasldfj 3 2,425 03-05-2013 11:11 AM
Last Post: Ky
  Civilians may have access to use drones. Reptorian 6 7,876 02-06-2012 08:54 PM
Last Post: The
  Pressure while learning. Hanny 10 2,166 01-11-2010 10:59 PM
Last Post: thewake

Forum Jump:


User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)

Contact Us | School Survival | Return to Top | Return to Content | Mobile Version | RSS Syndication