Fly Stimulator
21st May 2007, 14:06
I've just been reading about the trials of remote controlled miniature helicopters acting as CCTV platforms for the police here (http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1266714,00.html).
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1538319.jpg
The report says that they will operate at around 1,500 ft which could pose some interesting challenges for us all in seeing and avoiding them.
I wonder what the operational procedures might be for these machines. Will the police have to notify ATC where they are flying them (especially over a city like London where (S)VFR traffic will be flying at just the same levels) or will areas of airspace be permanently restricted just in case the police want to operate there?
Will they have their own Mode S transponders, and will the spread of these and other UAVs be used to justify the imposition of Mode S on all airspace where they might conceivably operate?
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1538319.jpg
The report says that they will operate at around 1,500 ft which could pose some interesting challenges for us all in seeing and avoiding them.
I wonder what the operational procedures might be for these machines. Will the police have to notify ATC where they are flying them (especially over a city like London where (S)VFR traffic will be flying at just the same levels) or will areas of airspace be permanently restricted just in case the police want to operate there?
Will they have their own Mode S transponders, and will the spread of these and other UAVs be used to justify the imposition of Mode S on all airspace where they might conceivably operate?