Southern California airport agencies fight for domestic drone test site amid privacy concerns

Two airport agencies in Southern California are competing for the right to become one of the nation’s domestic drone test sites despite the fact that even the Associated Press admits the massive expansion of domestic drone use “comes amid concerns of a ‘Big Brother’ society.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) put out a call last month to test drones at six sites across the U.S. before they are fully integrated into the American airspace, leading to bids from 39 states, though drones already regularly fly over the U.S., a fact which End the Lie has reported on many times now.

The selection of cities was previously delayed by the FAA over privacy concerns but now it seems the aviation industry’s calls for the FAA to ignore these legitimate issues have been answered.

A reader unfamiliar with domestic drone use might think that this means drones aren’t being used over the United States but in reality:

[Public entities] flying drones over the U.S. include National Guard units (more listed here), the military in concert with law enforcement agencies around the country, the Marshals Service and so many others that universities and colleges are expanding drone piloting programs to keep up with the domestic drone boom.

The FAA has yet to release complete documents outlining just how many entities are cleared to fly drones, meaning that we really have no clue about the extent of domestic drone use at this point.

We also know that civilian use is set to expand rapidly with multiple calls for drones to be used as news-gathering tools despite admitted “Big Brother” implications and the fact that commercial users regularly flout federal regulations.

An airport agency in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles, and an airport agency in Kern County in the Mojave Desert are currently competing over the ability to become one of the drone test sites according to a widely reprinted report by the Associated Press.

When discussing the expansion of drones into the domestic airspace even the Associated Press notes, “The expanding use for drones comes amid concerns of a ‘Big Brother’ society.”

Another AP report notes, “Indiana and Ohio have teamed up to compete to become 1 of 6 sites for testing drones for future civilian use.”

Ohio, like California, has a burgeoning drone industry, especially around the research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base which includes insect-sized killer drones.

Those seeking to establish the test sites, including Bill Buratto of the Ventura County Economic Development Association cite “an economic stimulus for the region moving forward” if they are successful, according to AP.

The Ventura County Economic Development Association is working in tandem with county airport officials to develop a plan to fly drones out of Point Mugu.

A recent report by the major drone lobby, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), claimed that the industry could create 70,000 jobs in the first three years after drones are integrated into U.S. airspace.

AUVSI is the same lobby that has bragged about taking a major role in crafting drone legislation and said that drones could have saved lives in the standoff with Christopher Dorner.

Interestingly, according to the Pacific Coast Business Times, “Ventura County would consider going ahead with opening a drone test site even if it is not one of the six applicants out of 50 nationwide that are selected by the Federal Aviation Administration.”

Todd McNamee, the director of airports for Ventura County, said during a policy symposium organized by AUVSI that there is nothing stopping them from establishing their own site if they’re not selected by the FAA.

Despite the effort on some fronts to integrate drones into the domestic airspace, there is also a nationwide push against domestic drones from state legislators with potential federal action along with local-level efforts in Seattle, Washington and Charlottesville, Virginia.

It will be interesting to see how these conflicting goals are worked out and how privacy concerns are dealt with by those involved.