The Boeing Phantom Eye is a drone designed to remain aloft for days. (AP Photo)
(CNSNews.com) - Since Jan. 1 of this year, according to congressional testimony presented Thursday by the Government Accountability Office, the Federal Aviation Administration has authorized 106 federal, state and local government “entities” to fly “unmanned aircraft systems,” also known as drones, within U.S. airspace.
“We are now on the edge of a new horizon: using unmanned aerial systems within the homeland,” House Homeland Security Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Michael McCaul (R.-Texas) said as he introduced the testimony.
“Currently,” said McCaul, “there are about 200 active Certificates of Authorization issued by the Federal Aviation Administration to over 100 different entities, such as law enforcement departments and academic institutions, to fly drones domestically.”
At his panel’s Thursday hearing, McCaul showed a map of the United States with markers indicating the locations where--as of April--government entities had been approved by the FAA to fly drones.
“The number of recipients since that time has increased,” McCaul noted.
GAO testified that the FAA’s long-term goal is to permit drones to operate in U.S. airspace “to the greatest extent possible.”
The proliferation of domestic drones, GAO said, raises a number of issues, the first of which is the right to privacy.
“First is privacy as it relates to the collection and use of surveillance data,” Gerald L. Dillingham, GAO’s director of Physical Infrastructure Issues told the House Homeland Subcommittee on Oversight on Thursday.
“Members of Congress, civil liberties organizations and civilians have expressed concerns that the potential increased use of UAS in the national airspace by law enforcement or for commercial purposes has potential privacy implications,” said Dillingham. “Currently, no federal agency has specific statutory responsibility to regulate privacy matters relating to UAS. Stakeholders have told us that by developing guidelines for the appropriate use of UASs ahead of widespread proliferation could in fact preclude abuses of the technology and negative public perceptions of the potential uses that are planned for these aircraft.”
The Federal Aviation Administration authorizes military and non-military (academic institutions; federal, state, and local governments including law enforcement entities; and private sector entities) UAS operations on a limited basis after conducting a case-by-case safety review,” Dillingham said.
“Only federal, state, and local government agencies can apply for a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA); private sector entities must apply for special airworthiness certificates in the experimental category,” Dillingham said.
“Between January 1, 2012 and July 17, 2012,” said Dillingham, “FAA had issued 201 COAs to 106 federal, state and local government entities across the United States, including law enforcement entities as well as academic institutions.”
In addition to authorizing 106 government agencies to operate drones, the FAA has authorized four private manufacturers to fly drones.
“Additionally, FAA had issued 8 special airworthiness certifications for experimental use to four UAS manufacturers,” said Dillingham.
“Presently, under COA or special airworthiness certification, UAS operations are permitted for specific times, locations and operations,” said Dillingham. “Thus it is not uncommon for an entity to receive multiple COAs for various missions.”
The subdivision of the Department of Homeland Security that includes the Border Patrol currently operates 10 drones.
“According to DHS officials,” Dillingham said “Customs and Border Protection (CBP) owns ten UAS that it operates for its own missions as well as for mission in conjunction with other agencies.”
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