Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Predator Up Over New York

They're being flown:
Boston Center (Nashua NH) [ZBW]: November NOTAM #158 issued by Bridgeport CT [BDR]
Airspace unmanned aircraft FL180 - FL300 WITHIN AN area BOUNDED by: 36 nautical miles on the 194° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 81 nautical miles on the 102° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 75 nautical miles on the 060° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 90 nautical miles on the 070° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 50 nautical miles on the 050° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 90 nautical miles on the 123° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 40 nautical miles southwest of Watertown [ART VOR] 52 nautical miles on the 229° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 37 nautical miles on the 250° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 25 nautical miles west of Watertown [ART VOR] 11 nautical miles on the 102° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 36 nautical miles on the 194° radial of Watertown [ART VOR] 1400 - 2000 daily effective from December 01st, 2011 at 10:00 AM EDT (1112011400) - February 29th, 2012 at 04:00 PM EDT (1202292000)
So if you're flying an airplane in Class A airspace, but under the RVSM block, be careful. "See and avoid" doesn't work worth a shit when the other airplane isn't looking.

Hopefully, TCAS will spot one of those puppies, as presumably, they have transponders. But "public aircraft" often don't follow the rules, so don't count on them having one.

11 comments:

  1. How long do you suppose until one of those things causes an aviation accident?

    ReplyDelete
  2. It has a transponder, just like the F16s etc that used to use the area.

    Big FAA and Boston and Cleveland centers apparently feel they are up to the task of providing separation services in Class A in that area with a remotely-improbable probability of failure.

    I believe when they are operating the UA they are primarily operating inside the MOAs and restricted areas in the area, but they need to get from one set of areas to the other.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Seems like flying is scary enough without unannounced invisible stuff floating around. Who thought that was allowable, Dennis the Meanace?
    w3ski

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bridget, I have my suspicions about the police's perception of acceptable risk. All they have to do in response to any criticism is say the word "terror."

    The question is, how long before Predator-caused accidents surpass the death toll on 9/11?

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1984, it's not just a work of science fiction anymore...I gotta say when I was working I would not be happy with one of these flying around in my airspace, or over my house for that matter. The police wouldn't ever do anything wrong now, would they?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Are there any laws about shooting down unmanned aircraft, ground to air or air to air?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bridget, I don't know, but it'll happen sooner or later.

    O.R.D., I've thought about painting something very rude on the roof that would be visible to the drones, but not to the naked eye. Maybe plant "Fuck DHS" in a different species of grass?

    Montag, there are laws against dropping stuff in an unsafe manner. The FAA makes the warbird people wire the drop-tanks in place. I think they'll take a dim view of shooting down a drone. Better when the smaller ones come into use and you can take it down with birdshot.

    A couple of decades ago, the cops were buzzing a neighborhood at low altitude with a helicopter at 3 am. After awhile, some dude came out with a M-1 and opened up on the helo. He hit the observer, for the shooter didn't know that helo drivers sit in the right seat. (As far as I know, they never caught him.)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Turns out it already *has* been used by law enforcement....sounds like the sheriff can't enforce the law without everything but the Spanish Armada backing him up.......
    http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/10/nation/la-na-drone-arrest-20111211

    ReplyDelete
  9. Could you please post a link to some official document, adam curry on NA brought this up on the 12/15 show and his show-notes linked here. Since first hearing this i have been searching vigorously to find this on the FAA site but for some reason cant. Will share info with anyone i can if there is an official document stating this. Please don't put me off as some troll, I'm not doubting you I have just learned the hard way not to trust anything read online without proof.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It is a Notam issued by Boston Center (ZBW). The current one is Notam KZBW A0563/11.

    There is also one for Cleveland Center (ZPM), Notam KZOM 11/449

    You can find the Notam search page here. On the left side, enter the three letter center code in "search by location".

    I have not run all around the border to check all of the centers with airspace over teh border area, but I'd not be surprised.

    ReplyDelete

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