Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Magnuson, Stew.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Magnuson, Stew. "Role of unmanned aircraft questioned." National Defense. 1 July 2006.

This article discusses the role of the unmanned aerial vehicle. It focuses on the Department of Homeland Security's push to utilize such vehicles for purposes of patrolling the nation's southern border. However, this policy changed after a Predator B. aircraft crashed in the desert just northwest of Nogales, Arizona.

The cause of the crash was determined to be due to a pilot error. The way such a plane works is that it is operated by a remote control. The system has a back up so when a remote control locks up, the pilot can switch to a second console, which doubles as the control system for the cameras and sensors. However, in the situation at hand, when the control locked up, the pilot ailed to match the control positions on the two consoles and did not note that the fuel cutoff switch was still on. When its fuel cut off, the plane lost power and crashed.

This incident has given ammunition to those who oppose the use o unmanned aerial vehicles, or at least argue for their restricted use. One of the leading opposition groups is the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, who is lobbying congress to limit UAV use at the altitudes in which its members fly. They use this incident as an example of how easily a crash could happen.

"Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: High Flying Drones." The Economist. 3 July 2003.

This article compares the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for quick air strikes vs. using them in one spot for long periods of time. The article begins by reviewing the popular headline news that was highlighting and focusing on the advantages of using unmanned aerial vehicles that can bomb any target in the world and be flown from a base in America. The advantages of such a use are clear. For example, this would avoid the expense and danger created by basing military operations out of other nations, something that often leads to odd bedfellows (such as our current use of Pakistan as a base for the operations in Afghanistan).

However, this article makes a counter argument against such a use. Instead, it argues that the greatest benefit of unmanned aerial vehicles will come from developing ones not fast and flashy, but instead slow and steady. Instead of remote missions from the United States, according to the article, the operations should be capable of loitering over the same spot for months. In this sense, the unmanned aerial vehicle will act as a low-orbit satellite, or surveillance drone capable of capturing important security information without endangering lives.

"UAVs next step to stem terrorism." USA Today. December, 2003.

This article examines the non-military uses of unmanned aerial vehicles. Its main focus is on the value that unmanned aerial vehicles have for protecting the United States homeland. According to the Deputy Homeland Security Secretary, it is believed that unmanned aerial vehicles will be a primary aid to the department's ongoing efforts to provide port and border security to the nation.