On Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:05:16 -0000, Jim Logajan
wrote in :

Larry Dighera wrote:
What distinguishes UAVs from manned
aircraft is their inability to comply with a fundamental cornerstone
of flight operations: see-and-avoid.

"See-and-avoid" is not a fundamental cornerstone of flight ops; at least
not by my definition of "fundamental".

"See-and-avoid" is fundamental for VMC operations of aircraft.
Consider the NORDO Cub. There's nothing separating him from other
flights except his situational awareness and perhaps the
Big-sky-theory (fortune).

A specific counterexample appears to
be unmanned free balloons, which cannot meaningfully engage in "see-and-
avoid" yet are not limited to SUA. (At least I don't believe so.)

Thanks for the input. It shows you can think outside the box, but I'm
not sure paragraphs 'd' and 'e' supports your point however:


http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...2.0 .1.3.15.4
Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 101—MOORED BALLOONS, KITES, UNMANNED ROCKETS AND UNMANNED
FREE BALLOONS
Subpart D—Unmanned Free Balloons

§ 101.33 Operating limitations.
No person may operate an unmanned free balloon—

(a) Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, below 2,000 feet above the
surface within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of
Class B, Class C, Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an
airport;

(b) At any altitude where there are clouds or obscuring phenomena
of more than five-tenths coverage;

(c) At any altitude below 60,000 feet standard pressure altitude
where the horizontal visibility is less than five miles;

(d) During the first 1,000 feet of ascent, over a congested area
of a city, town, or settlement or an open-air assembly of persons
not associated with the operation; or

(e) In such a manner that impact of the balloon, or part thereof
including its payload, with the surface creates a hazard to
persons or property not associated with the operation.


Recall, the Dade County and Houston police departments intend to
operate the Honeywell MAV over their metropolitan areas to support
SWAT teams and issue traffic citations, so that would probably
necessitate their operation below 1,000'. And if the MAV engine quits
over a populated area, it wouldn't be able to comply with paragraph
'e' either.

If you think existing aspects of Part 101 should be applied and otherwise
modified to SUA operations in the NAS I'd agree with you.


I hadn't even considered Part 101. How would you propose to modify
Part 101?