Plans For Unmanned Planes To Fight Crime May Be Put On Hold
POSTED: Sunday, April 8, 2007
UPDATED: 10:18 am EDT April 9,
2007
PALM BAY, Fla. -- Plans to put unmanned planes into Central Florida skies as crime-fighting tools in Palm Bay have been put on hold, Local 6 News has learned.
IMAGES: Drone Craft Photos
Officials said the project is hinging on a meeting between the Federal Aviation Administration and the plane developers that is scheduled for next week.Palm Bay police said the $38,000, 8-pound planes are cheaper than helicopters to put into the sky and would help officers respond more quickly to crimes."We'll be able to get into the air in a matter of moments as compared to traditional aircraft, which takes 45 minutes to an hour," Palm Bay Police Chief William Berger said.The aircraft can transmit video and other data to a portable ground station monitored by police, according to the report."Basically, we will be able to go to crime scenes," Berger said. "We will be able to go to potential barricaded suspects and suspects who may be being searched for." The FAA is concerned that the planes may be a threat to low-flying aircraft over Central Florida.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
IMAGES: Drone Craft Photos
Officials said the project is hinging on a meeting between the Federal Aviation Administration and the plane developers that is scheduled for next week.Palm Bay police said the $38,000, 8-pound planes are cheaper than helicopters to put into the sky and would help officers respond more quickly to crimes."We'll be able to get into the air in a matter of moments as compared to traditional aircraft, which takes 45 minutes to an hour," Palm Bay Police Chief William Berger said.The aircraft can transmit video and other data to a portable ground station monitored by police, according to the report."Basically, we will be able to go to crime scenes," Berger said. "We will be able to go to potential barricaded suspects and suspects who may be being searched for." The FAA is concerned that the planes may be a threat to low-flying aircraft over Central Florida.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Previous Stories:
- January 21, 2007: Unmanned Aircraft To Patrol Central Florida City
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