UAV for police
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:56 am
The recent discussions about the lack of air support during chases and searches in the last few weeks has got me thinking. ( yes thats what that noise was!
) . Does anyone know if WAPOL has ever looked into the use of hand launched UAV ( unmanned aerial vehicles)?. I know some states in the USA have them in use for searches and border protection and they have them fitted with cameras and thermal imaging that beam information back to operators on the ground. The aircraft are controlled via laptop computer set ups that are very portable and are by all accounts quite cost effective when compared to running and maintaining helicopters etc. Australia has some of the best aerobotics minds in the world and i really cant for the life of me understand why we arent exploiting this fact. I am guessing the biggest drawback at the moment would be the twist that CASA would get in thier knickers trying to figure out rules for the use of these things in built up areas. Just my two cents. any thoughts?