Safety a concern as drones catch on

Posted on: Aug. 8th, 2006 || Source: azcentral.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Crashes of unmanned aircraft flying over the United States are worrying pilots and some lawmakers that the rapid growth of drones threatens safety on the ground and in the skies.

Spurred by the success of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in war zones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon, manufacturers are moving fast to create domestic markets for drones that can do everything from border surveillance to finding lost children, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The U.S. military operates about 700 of its 3,500 drones in this country, according to the Pentagon. While most of these drones are small and fly only above military bases, some large UAVs are allowed under U.S. regulations to enter civilian airspace. President Bush has called for expanding their use to protect the nation's borders, and as many as 10 non-military agencies want to fly them.

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