UAV's and TFR's along the Mexico boarder

John Doe wrote:
"Bob Fry" wrote in message
news
"JD" == John Doe writes:
JD Why can't the UAV just fly along under an IFR flight plan and
JD everyone else just avoid the little thing just like any other
JD plane on an IFR flight plan?

Because that's not the way it works in VMC. In VMC, *everybody*
avoids everybody else visually, as well as with other aids (ATC). So
if the "little thing" is flying, and I'm flying, and it's VMC and I'm
not talking to ATC, and I don't see that "little thing", and of course
nobody is onboard the UAV to see me....midairs happen.

Ok, you just contradicted yourself.

If you're flying in VMC and you don't see that "little thing", and have a
midair, it's your fault. Why does it matter if anyone is on board the UAV
or not?

Personally I think a NOTAM saying when/where the UAVs will be should be
enough for VFR pilots to avoid the thing. Why do we need a TFR?

Answer a question for me: is this a little bitty slow UAV that's hard
to see from any kind of distance or one of the larger, faster ones that
can run a light plane down from behind where the pilot couldn't see it
coming?

John Keeney wrote:

Answer a question for me: is this a little bitty slow UAV that's hard
to see from any kind of distance or one of the larger, faster ones that
can run a light plane down from behind where the pilot couldn't see it
coming?

Someone claimed that a 182 wouldn't be able to carry all the gear that this
thing does. That would argue for the larger aircraft.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.

"George Patterson" wrote

Someone claimed that a 182 wouldn't be able to carry all the gear that
this thing does. That would argue for the larger aircraft.

It seems to me that a couple of factors figure in, on why they choose the
UAV over the 182. (or bigger)

1. A computer geek can fly the 182, with nowhere near the training of the
182 pilot.
2. The time on station is hard to beat, with a UAV. 12 hours would be near
impossible for a 182 pilot, if not impossible, very uncomfortable. The UAV
dood can get his backup to take turns, go pee, eat, whatever.
3. If you were using 182's, it would just be a matter of time, before you
lost your first crew. News break: small planes do crash.
4. UAV's can do their mission in nearly all weather. Ice would be about
the only thing that would keep them on the ground. They even flew these
things in hurricane recon missions. You can't say the same about spam cans.
They would be frequently grounded, due to weather.
5. You can have a whole crew of specialists, monitoring a large number of
instruments. You could only take the pilot, and one or two, in the 182.
Go large enough to accommodate a large crew, and watch operating costs go
up, with the larger plane.

I am not in favor of sharing airspace, without a better workaround than what
is being proposed, but I do see why UAV's are attractive to the gubermint.
--
Jim in NC

George Patterson wrote:
John Keeney wrote:

Answer a question for me: is this a little bitty slow UAV that's hard
to see from any kind of distance or one of the larger, faster ones that
can run a light plane down from behind where the pilot couldn't see it
coming?

Someone claimed that a 182 wouldn't be able to carry all the gear that this
thing does. That would argue for the larger aircraft.

Well, one of the more favored UAVs is the size of the 737...

Blanche wrote:

George Patterson wrote:
John Keeney wrote:

Answer a question for me: is this a little bitty slow UAV that's hard
to see from any kind of distance or one of the larger, faster ones that
can run a light plane down from behind where the pilot couldn't see it
coming?

Someone claimed that a 182 wouldn't be able to carry all the gear that this
thing does. That would argue for the larger aircraft.

Well, one of the more favored UAVs is the size of the 737...

I think it would be more correct to state that the wingspan is around
that of a 737. Certainly the length and fuselage are not of similar
dimensions. This is from memory.

Ron Lee

"John Keeney" wrote in message
oups.com...


Answer a question for me: is this a little bitty slow UAV that's hard
to see from any kind of distance or one of the larger, faster ones that
can run a light plane down from behind where the pilot couldn't see it
coming?


We're talking about these or something very close.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/predator/