GISCafe Voice Susan Smith
Susan Smith has worked as an editor and writer in the technology industry for over 16 years. As an editor she has been responsible for the launch of a number of technology trade publications, both in print and online. Currently, Susan is the Editor of GISCafe and AECCafe, as well as those sites’ … More » Drone lands on White House groundsJanuary 29th, 2015 by Susan Smith
Monday’s crash of a two-foot-long drone on the White House grounds set off the country’s alarm bells on the entire safety surrounding drones and what they represent in terms of national security.
Flown by a hobbyist, the drone was not intended to fly over the White House complex. However harmless it was, the event did spur police, fire and other emergency vehicles to swarm the White House just after the crash. The entire perimeter was on lockdown until around 5 a.m. when White House workers were allowed inside. The Federal Aviation Administration is working on putting rules in place for drones to fly commercially. At the urging of the drone industry, the Obama administration is on the verge of proposing rules for drone operations that would replace an existing ban on most commercial flights. Industry watchers suggest that the long-running public debate about the use of commercial drones in U.S. skies vis-a-vis national security will be inflamed by this incident. There have been previous reports of drones operating near the White House, according to the FAA, but one has not yet landed on the property until Monday. |