Drone: .5 - Blackhawk: 1

One of the interesting things in the UAV seminar was the recounting of a Drone and UH-60 Blackhawk encounter. I decided to read up on it as it was an interesting factoid I had not heard of until then.

On September 21, 2017 at 7:30pm a Blackhawk Helicopter was struck by a DJI Phantom 4 drone, causing damage to the Blackhawk's rotor. The Drone was destroyed. The rotor blade and some other parts of the Blackhawk had to be replaced.

The operator of the drone managed to violate multiple regulations - flying it 2.5 miles away beyond line of sight, after dark, and into a TFR. He was identified by the serial number of the drone from a recovered part lodged in the Blackhawk's engine intake. There is no info as to whether the drone operator was subsequently charged for the repairs.

The drone operator had a clear case of flying drone while stupid. Drone operators certainly need more education on when and how they're allowed to fly their drones.

This was an accident due to ignorance, but it raises the nasty scenario of deliberate attacks with drones on aircraft which could be a rather nasty scenario in and of itself.

Overkill? There's No Such Thing As Overkill.

The National Post: An American ally used a $3M Patriot missile to destroy a drone ‘that cost 200 bucks,’ U.S. general reveals

That's one drone that won't fly again, as well as a very expensive use of a Patriot missile. It may have been a dubious usage, but it may also have been a worthwhile exhibition of the Patriot's ability to take down even small maneuverable targets.

It'll be interesting to see which ally it was and what the exact circumstances were that led to the firing of the missile, as "Taiwan, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the United Arab Emirates" all have the Patriot Missile System.

British Airways Records First Drone Strike On A Passenger Jet

It likely will not be the last.

The Detroit News: British Airways jet may have been hit by drone

Drones will likely become more and ore of a problem in aviation. It's not just the average clueless hobbyist that may inadvertently violate controlled airspace and smack a plane by accident while flying their drone around obliviously. People intent on creating harm - terrorists, criminal extortionists, even vengeful spouses may soon be able to target a drone at a passenger plane and cause serious damage and destruction.

Given the rather radical population in easy drone flying distance of Heathrow's approaches, it is too early to tell if it was simply stupidity or active malice that led to the collision. Luckily no harm seems to have been done, this time.

There are no good nor easy answers for it, as the technology is well and truly already out there for good (of which there are many good and decent uses for drones) or ill.

Apparently Operating A Drone Can Be Dangerous To The Operator's Health

Who knew that flying an unmanned drone can be hazardous to you health?

One drone operator here in Michigan managed to find out the hard way yesterday after going for a swim to recover his drone in freezing waters.

The Detroit Free Press: Pilot rescued after drone crashes in St. Clair County

A man had to be rescued from the Black River after falling into the water while trying to rescue his drone. Firefighters responded to the river near the Seventh Street Bridge in Port Huron shortly after 11:20 a.m. The man had been flying his drone in the area when it hit a dock post and fell into the river. The man followed suit when he tried to retrieve it.

The drone was not recovered.

Going into the very cold water in Michigan right now is a great way to get hypothermia and then dying fast. It is not advisable unless you're in a proper drysuit and prepared for the shock of entering the water. Luckily for him he was rescued in time but going after a drone that he had flown into the water was not a good idea.

Situation Desperate But Not Serious - Obama Admin's Terrorist Policy Just Droning Along

Obama and his policies regarding drones operations in foreign countries against US Citizens has managed to boomerang nicely and illustrate the trouble with treating foreign terrorism overseas as a law enforcement problem.

The Detroit News: American citizen possibly targeted for U.S. drone attack

An American citizen who is a member of al-Qaida is actively planning attacks against Americans overseas, U.S. officials say, and the Obama administration is wrestling with whether to kill him with a drone strike and how to do so legally under its new stricter targeting policy issued last year.

The CIA drones watching him cannot strike because he’s a U.S. citizen and the Justice Department must build a case against him, a task it hasn’t completed.

Four U.S. officials said the American suspected terrorist is in a country that refuses U.S. military action on its soil and that has proved unable to go after him. And President Barack Obama’s new policy says American suspected terrorists overseas can only be killed by the military, not the CIA, creating a policy conundrum for the White House.

Quite the catch 22 - and adding to the fun you'll see as you read the article that currently, only the military by law may try to capture him, but by law the military isn't allowed to go capture him. Yet the CIA drone may lawfully fly there, but can't shoot because that would be unlawful.

So, this fellow is responsible for the deaths of Americans overseas but can't be touched because there hasn't been a domestic law enforcement case made against him, a case that can't be prosecuted as he can't be brought to justice in the US due to his current remote location that would require US troops to have to land and try to capture him, and thus we can't let the CIA go after him, and the military can't touch him because he's not in a conflict zone where they could act.

In other words, a terrorist with American citizenship located outside America may plot and kill Americans with impunity under this policy, and all drones can do is circle around and watch as he does so.

That's quite the policy, and it's an example of the inherent insanity in treating foreign terrorism as a law enforcement problem that can be defeated by pretty platitudes and policies.

Don't Drink N' Drone - At Least Not Yet

The killjoys at the FAA are at it again:

The Detroit News: FAA grounds drone beer delivery to ice fishermen

A Wisconsin beermaker wants drones to help anglers remotely replenish their stocks of beer. But the government is saying no.

For now.

The Federal Aviation Administration informed Lakemaid Beer that it currently prohibits small businesses from using drones shortly after the brewer posted video of a test run last week on Lake Waconia, located in Minnesota west of the Twin Cities.

Using drones for spying, good. Using them for something as crass as delivering refreshments to fishermen - bad.

The regulations are slipping farther and farther beyond the technological capabilities of the day.

Look Up In The Sky, It's A Bird, It's A Plane, No, It's A Drone And You're Another Dead Terrorist In Pakistan......

That droning sound followed by a blast means corporate advancement for the Pakistani Taliban as their number one got all blowed up.

The Detroit Free Press: Pakistani Taliban needs new leader after drone hit

The Pakistani Taliban's top council met Saturday to choose a new leader to replace the militant movement's chief, killed in a U.S. drone strike the day before, intelligence officials and commanders in the movement said.

The death of Hakimullah Mehsud, a ruthless leader known for attacking a CIA base in Afghanistan and a bloody campaign that killed thousands of Pakistani civilians and members of the security forces, is a heavy blow for the militant group.

One wonders how many potential candidates quickly yelled "Not it!" when it came time to picking a replacement.

It's Tough Being An Al-Qaeda #2

Yet another Al Qaeda #2 man has gone to his just desserts, apparently via drone-fired missile.

The Detroit News: Al-Qaida's No. 2 in Yemen killed in airstrike

An airstrike killed al-Qaida's No. 2 leader in Yemen along with five others traveling with him in one car on Monday, senior Yemeni Defense Ministry officials reported. If confirmed, Saeed al-Shihri's death would be a major blow to the militant group.

The officials said the missile that killed al-Shihri, a Saudi national, was believed to have been fired by a U.S. operated drone, but that couldn't immediately be confirmed. The U.S. doesn't usually comment on such attacks although it has used drones in the past to go after al-Qaida members in Yemen.

That makes at least 30 Al Qaeda #2s zapped. Not exactly a job with a lot of longevity or viable prospects for promotion, nor chances to collect on the pension plan.

The most recently appointed Al Qaeda #1, Ayman al-Zawahiri, reminiscing on the losses of this slew of #2s allegedly tearfully stated while furtively scanning the sky:

"Yes, they blow up so fast, don't they?"