Honeywell To Sell Miami-Dade Police a Surveillance Drone 253
AHuxley writes "The Miami-Dade Police Department recently finalized a deal to buy a 20-pound drone from defense firm Honeywell. The drone can fly for 40 minutes, reach heights of 10,500 feet and cruise in the air at 46 miles an hour. As the Miami-Dade Police Department has recently made a lot of budget cuts, the funding may have come from a federal grant. An eye in the sky like over Iraq and Afghanistan may soon be looking down over South Florida 'to keep people safe.' Honeywell has applied to the FAA for clearance to fly the drone in urban areas."
Re:40 minutes (Score:4, Interesting)
doesn't sound like a very long time, do they launch it with an elastic band or something ?
That was my observation too. Also, what is the point of being able to go to 10,500 feet if you only have a 40 min. of flight time?
Get the toy then get permission to fly it? (Score:4, Interesting)
"Honeywell has applied to the FAA for clearance to fly the drone in urban areas. This has never been allowed before, but if it does happen, the Miami-Dade Police Department will be the first police agency in the US to use the technology."
Please say, "NO" (Score:5, Interesting)
I can only hope the FAA is smart enough (funny joke there) to say no. The risk to other aircraft can not possibly be justified. And given that this would likely trigger as a "pop up" means that the pilot and passengers this drone may murder would likely be "at fault." - even if hit from the rear.
There is absolutely nothing safe about having an idiot cop with a remote control aircraft mixing with air traffic which has can not see and avoid - which is a mandate of the FAA.
Re:In a related story, the state legislature... (Score:4, Interesting)
has introduced a bill the have the name of the state changed from Florida to Oceania.
The name of the State has always been Oceania.