Drones need much more scrutiny

In his article “Coming To A Sky Near You,” Mr. Wohlsen completely misses the critical concern about operating drones over domestic airspace. Privacy isn’t the issue. Safety is. This first safety concern is how these drones are going to avoid colliding with manned aircraft.

It’s fine for the operator who thinks, “It’s just like flying without all the trouble of having to be up in the air.” As I pilot, I am up in the air. If someone else wants to up there with me, I want them to have as deep a stake in avoiding collisions as I have. And if they are putting an unmanned aircraft up there, I feel they owe those of us in manned aircraft an extraordinary duty to make absolutely sure they will create no additional risk to us.

The second safety concern arises from the fact that these drones are operating over populated areas. People on the ground have a right to expect that operation of these drones, whether by individuals or government agencies, will not pose any additional risk to people or property on the ground. Manned aircraft abide by numerous, specific restrictions to ensure flight operation do not endanger those on the ground (and those of us in manned aircraft have a very personal stake in never coming to earth other than on a designated runway!).

I should note that model airplanes are in a totally different category, since these are never operated beyond the direct line of sight of the ground-bound operator and are not operated over people on the ground. I would like to see the FAA impose an outright ban on amateur use of drones of whatever size and would like to see use by government agencies subjected to very high standards that would ensure that the benefit of their use outweighs any risk.

Tom Kupferer

Naperville