White House seeks more power to counter use of drones in U.S.

I worry about some nimrod flying a quadcopter into a departing airliner and causing a huge tragedy. I am starting to think drone flying should be restricted to the same specific areas where remote controlled aircraft are flown. RC aircraft enthusiasts have these small "airports" all around the country where they can enjoy their hobby without risk to others. They are usually sited in places where they won't conflict with airplanes. Restrict use of drones to these same locations.

There goes your graduation present.

This just another ploy by this Administration to, in the guise of "protecting the public," institute policies to restrict Americans' rights and freedoms with little limitation.

@The Avenger

Rights and freedom must come with responsibility, else it's anarchy.

Drones are multifarious in their use and purpose. They can be used as toys for fun, but they can be used as nefarious weapons to kill people. The Biden administration has decided to provide Ukraine's Zelenskyy with killer drones called Switchblades, which are self-destructing weapons to target at enemy convoys and artillery. 

Funny, Japan's promised aid package to Ukraine includes drones, too, besides gas masks and hazmat suits. Will Japan buy the drones from the U.S. and give them to Ukraine, saying drones are not weapons because they are commercially available?

The White House on Monday released an action plan that calls for expanding the number of agencies that can track and monitor drones flying in their airspace

Oh an “action plan”!

I wonder if the words “southern border” were in the action plan?

Don’t see why it should, drones are way way more dangerous to, you know, the children.

Please Trump again. Anything but this loser.

In the US, drones cannot be flown near controlled airspace, i.e. airports, stadiums, certain govt locations, or emergency services.

Hobbyists cannot exceed 400 ft altitude, ever, but still have to stay outside controlled airspace, unless they have an agreement (typically a RC flying club might have a field outside the flight patterns for smaller airports and the RC club could have agreements with the local FAA to fly in a specific way/area there.

Commercial drones have to get FAA clearance before flying in controlled airspace.

https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/where_can_i_fly/airspace_restrictions/ has more details.

Regardless, drones have to avoid all other air traffic. They never have the right-of-way.

What this request seems to be about is allowing other govt agencies (state, local, federal) the legal authority to act on behalf of the FAA and to make available training and equipment to those other agencies. I don't know how big of a problem this really is, but I'm inclined to deny this since it is almost certainly proposed/written by the companies making the 'approved' equipment.

I bet google, amazon, ups, fedex are all against this too.