flyer43,
I can appreciate some systems such as Predator, Reaper and Firescout are acceptable for some military operations though Predator and its new maritime variant are doing well to complement the manned assets for border patrol for the US CBP.
However I am not overly keen on UAVs replicating or replacing the manned helicopter even for surveillance be it powerline or parapublic or even crop spraying. Laying aside the risk argument and assessment for manned/unmanned flight, taking the pilot out of risk, out cockpit and sitting in a trailer 'flying' the craft.
Also on a personal level, a lot of UAV designs are IMHO, dead ugly to look at compared to manned rotorcraft say a Huey II, AS-350, EC-135.
One could argue that man since the early centuries has always wanted to fly and to travel....you can't do that with a UAV.
In conclusion UAVs are ok:
1) Providing they complement manned systems and do not dominate the airspace
2) They do not take away revenue from a small commercial helicopter outfit that may have crop spraying or surveillance as more than 50% of its business
Thankyou everyone for your thoughts and would appreciate more input as well on here.
Take care and merry xmas