FAA Surprised By Flying Drones

via engadget,
As if they were on cue from the post this morning about pilots wanting some controls on unmanned aircraft, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department is being reprimanded for not getting clearance to demonstrate their new flying reconnaissance toys.


From Wired News:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles County sheriff's plan to use small, remote-controlled planes to track criminals and look for lost hikers has been temporarily grounded by federal officials worried about air safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration won't authorize the drones until it investigates a demonstration the sheriff's department conducted last week, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said.


"I wouldn't want to term us as peeved, but we were definitely surprised," Brown said.

She said agency officials told the sheriff's department it needed their authorization before flying the drones to ensure they don't interfere with other aircraft. The department could face disciplinary action over the demonstration.

I told you so!

Wired News