FEMA Grounds Private Drones That Were Helping To Map Boulder Floods, Threatens To Arrest Operators
from the heckuva-job dept
As you may have heard, Boulder, Colorado has been hit by massive flooding over the past week, and it's been something of a mess. A local company, Falcon UAV, makers of special drones which are built for the government, approved by the FAA, and specialize in using GPS and cameras to generate highly accurate maps, started helping to map the damage with those drones. It was basically making very useful, near real-time maps showing the floods. You'd think that would be useful to, say, FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency in charge of helping to coordinate the response to the floods. Instead, FEMA ordered the drones grounded or it would have people from Falcon UAV arrested. Once again, this isn't just some guy with a toy quadcopter trying to take photos. These are drones designed for this sort of thing. As the company explains, this grounding made little sense, and possibly held back relief efforts.Early Saturday morning Falcon UAV was heading up to Lyons to complete a damage assessment mapping flight when we received a call from our Boulder EOC point of contact who notified us that FEMA had taken over operations and our request to fly drones was not only denied but more specifically we were told by FEMA that anyone flying drones would be arrested. Not being one to bow to federal bureaucrats we still went up to Lyons to do a site survey for how we can conduct a mission in the near future to provide an adequate damage assessment to this storm ravaged community.Sure, you can understand why federal officials would be initially careful about what was happening, but Falcon UAV had already been working with local Boulder County officials to do this effort, and it was clear that what its drones were doing was helpful. Shutting it down with no explanation and threatening to arrest the operators just seems like FEMA shoving people around because it can.
While we were up there we noticed that Civil Air Patrol and private aircraft were authorized to fly over the small town tucked into the base of Rockies. Unfortunately due to the high terrain around Lyons and large turn radius of manned aircraft they were flying well out of a useful visual range and didn't employ cameras or live video feed to support the recovery effort. Meanwhile we were grounded on the Lyons high school football field with two Falcons that could have mapped the entire town in less than 30 minutes with another few hours to process the data providing a near real time map of the entire town.
[...] We are very disappointed in FEMAs response to actively prevent the use of UAVs and drone technology when these services were offered for free and at a time when manned helicopters could be used for more critical missions such as evacuations and high mountain search and rescues in inaccessible communities.
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Filed Under: boulder, drones, fema, flooding, uav
Companies: falcon uav
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FTFY
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President Ronald Reagan called the phrase �the nine most terrifying words in the English language� in 1986. The phrase and Reagan�s comments are still cited today, especially by conservative media commentators such as Sean Hannity.
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Have you spent very much time in Colorado? I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone dismiss the entire state like that before.
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Or, better, take a long walk off your newly abridged sidewalk.
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DOT/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the operation and regulation of the U.S. National Airspace System, including during emergencies.
- http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-esf-01.pdf
Also, the drone operators were using FAA licensed and authorized equipment. That means they act with the same authority as a pilot flying a 747. The fact that its controlled remotely doesn't change anything.
FEMA was absolutely in the wrong; despite what may appear to be best intentions.
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Response to: Michael on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 12:55pm
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http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1mjyp7/fema_grounds_private_drones_that_were_he lping_to/
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Re: Anonymous Coward and others Re Gov't bullying
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1mjyp7/fema_grounds_private_drones_that_wer e_helping_to/
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The government probably has their own private sub contractors for this sort of thing.
I don't fault FEMA in the least. Until FEMA can address a course of action to take, sub contractors like Falcon UAV tried to take advantage of a possible situation in order to make money. FEMA probably already has sub contractors under contract and, at any rate, this is where local law enforcement, S.A.R. and other relief organizations like the American Red Cross are more trained to deal with circumstances like this.
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Falcon UAV was providing these mapping services free of charge. So no, they were not taking advantage of a possible situation in order to make money.
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But that's really just standard operating procedure for FEMA. Maybe they were worried about violating the status quo of coming in after everything is over and saying "Yep! We sure helped!".
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Um...
You might think that this is wrong, but FEMA is in the right on this....
Not sure if Poe.
As of this posting I have not received a US National Security Letter or any classified gag order from an agent of the United States
Encrypted with Morbius-Cochrane Perfect Steganographic Codec 1.2.001
Monday, September 16, 2013 11:10:09 AM
pill stream bomb ambiguous spanner motorcycle emerald sword
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Re: Falcon UAV
Here is one link to the information http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/aerial-robots/falcon-uav-provides-colorado-flooding-assi stance-until-fema-freaks-out
Sounds like FEMA wasn't flexible enough to adapt to a situation that was under control and providing valuable assistance in an emergency.
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Falcon UAV tried to take advantage of a possible situation in order to make money."
Damn straight.
To quote the article "these services were offered for free".... that's zero of MY TAX DOLLARS that the government would have been handing over to this money-grubbing private company.
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
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Loyal Party members have nothing to fear.
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
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In the article they specifically mentioned the contractor was doing this for free. Where is the profit in that? Now, if you're suggesting they are doing this to build name recognition and that will make money down the line, I still don't see a problem with this.
The article mentioned that FEMA and their resources did not have the ability to adequately map the town because of the high terrain.
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You're either a FEMA shill or just really effing stupid.
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
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Re: are you blind?
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Until I hear FEMA's side of the story I will reserve judgement, but I'm already biased against them, because they prove their incompetence time and time again.
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If you REALLY want a conspiracy theory, how about FEMA not wanting pictures taken of the fracking facilities which are now underwater and leaking dangerous chemicals into the flood water?
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
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Re: paranoia of businesses
The bigger question is, why wouldn't FEMA want that information? It could save people's lives. But you think the government is in the right because a business owns the drones? That is ridiculous and senseless.
They can map the area that FEMA needs to operate in. Not wanting that kind of help sounds extremely fishy.
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"[...] We are very disappointed in FEMAs response to actively prevent the use of UAVs and drone technology when these services were offered for free and at a time when manned helicopters could be used for more critical missions such as evacuations and high mountain search and rescues in inaccessible communities."
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Re: Kenichi Tanaka
I quote from the article - [...] We are very disappointed in FEMAs response to actively prevent the use of UAVs and drone technology when these services were offered for free and at a time when manned helicopters could be used for more critical missions such as evacuations and high mountain search and rescues in inaccessible communities.
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(second-to-last paragraph)
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
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Did you miss that part?? These ARE the private sub-contractors for this sort of thing!
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Re: you're joking, right?
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Finally, your point about "training": Falcon UAV is a company that, according to their website, specializes in unmanned aerial reconnaissance. Falcon UAV was attempting to perform aerial damage assessment using their drones, and apparently nothing more. This IS their area of expertise, this IS what they are trained to do. Just because they don't have badges or government affiliations doesn't mean they aren't professionals. In fact, given how incompetent FEMA is, I would assume Falcon is even more qualified for this job.
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Also the services of Falcon UAV were offered free of charge, so your profit motive doesn't hold up either.
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
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Response to: kenichi tanaka on Sep 16th, 2013 @ 1:05pm
FEMA has THE WORST track record of any agency in the government. They sat on their asses for Katrina. The two hurricanes in The northeast they did nothing for three years.
They are offing Americans in record times.
A private contractor wanted to make money? They specifically said "FREE" . So they generate some publicity for themselves. No big deal. They could have SAVED HUMAN LIVES. But according to you " oh god forbid we hire someone who is a private company" obviously the Feds couldn't handle the situation(surprise!!)
Quite frankly your reasoning sucks
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"heck of a job"
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Foil Hat Time
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(I.E. you might of seen something we don't want you to see)
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Authority?
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Re: Authority?
Unmanned aircraft can only operate in controlled airspace with a Letter of Agreement from whoever in the FAA owns that airspace. And then, only one UAS can be operating in that airspace at one time.
That being said, the Falcon is just a big R/C plane. It's not the sort of UAS that would operate in controlled airspace anyway. It most likely flies well below what the FAA is in charge of.
As to FEMA's authority... Go read the executive orders that empower them sometime. They can do anything they want, including drafting civilian "consultants" and forcing them to perform services without compensation during an emergency. They are a very scary group of people who I wouldn't want to ever have anything to do with.
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Awwww - aren't you cute.
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http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N_8900.227.pdf
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The FAA controls all airspace; even that used by hobbyists, which are allowed to operate below 400 ft.
Currently the FAA does not distinguish between large UAVs and micro-UAVs, but that may change in the upcoming months. And that's where most people who operate UAVs get themselves into trouble.
Also, FEMA does not have any authority over the airspace, even stated in FEMA documentation available on their website: "DOT/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the operation and regulation of the
U.S. National Airspace System, including during emergencies. "
- http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-esf-01.pdf
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Re: Re: Authority?
Generally this would mean that the airframe was examined and tested by the FAA and approved for flight above 400 feet. Such craft are generally registered with the FAA.
The rest of your points have already been addressed. FEMA had no authority to make this order.
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Why does the government hate US citizens so much?
Where are we living?
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Re: Why does the government hate US citizens so much?
FEMA as a federal agency technically could have been told to naf off if the local authorities really wanted to do so, but since Federal Dadio is responsible for providing/controlling some relief funds and assistance everyone just folds and lets them run the show because all things considered, things just go smoother if you don't clench.
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Re: Re: Why does the government hate US citizens so much?
This is the main reason that big government is bad. As wacko as many of the Tea Party people seem, this is the basis for their argument about government size/power/intrusion. In essence, "Don't Tread On Me!"
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Re: Why does the government hate US citizens so much?
Pity yoy didn't give your choices more thought.
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FEMA isn't there to primarily provide emergency response and relief for disasters. They exist mainly to provide cover-your-ass for the politicians who are typically asleep at the wheel when this kind of shit happened. To provide the good cover stories, excuses, and bullshit in order for the government to walk out of a major incident blameless. They are mainly politicians first and disaster relief second.
They likely don't want the drones exposing some major act of incompetence that has made the floods that much worse/or is going to make it much worse.
Or worse, they want to have that plausible deniability for when something really does go wrong. They don't want drones and technology giving them all the information they need to actually do something to help the situation. If they do that, then they would have no real excuse for themselves if something really DOES go horribly wrong. So they order the drones and relief efforts to be stalled until it's apparent that a fall-man is established or that their involvement can not fail.
It's the sad state of affairs we live in. Even sadder that people still trust government acronym organizations like them.
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They do not like what they do not understand.
its the same reason so many in congress are anti-internet and pro MAFIAA they dont understand the tech but they know what they are told to believe...
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What an utterly stupid thing to write and it's plainly obvious you're not here to see this disaster up close and personal but I am.
The reason they don't want drones flying in that area is because there are close to 20 helicopters in the air and many of them are are actually picking up victims and stranded first responders IN Lyons today. There's no conspiracy or no cya crap just common sense for the aircrews who are helping rescue the victims in a confined airspace.
Take off your tin foil hat. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
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FEMA is a giant bureaucratic organization that has only helped themselves first and everyone else second. If you were old enough when Katrina happened (You're probably not) you would remember how utterly ineffective their response was even after they were given authorization to be there.
Also "MUH HELICOPTERS" is a piss-poor excuse for your failed education on aviation. There are hundreds of helicopters in operation at any time of the day in any given airspace, the drones don't "threaten" any of them because they have flight plans as well as the drones. This was a civil service being offered for free that would have even eliminated the need of using mass numbers of helicopters.
Not that you care, you're one of the few people on the internet I meet who still believes the government isn't serving itself first. "HURR TINFIOL HATTER" is a common excuse of the uneducated and stupid to keep themselves from realizing just how little the government cares about you.
Read a fucking book sometime and maybe learn how FEMA works to undermine actual disaster relief organizations.
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Maybe you should call a septic truck to flush your head, it's clear that brown liquid you keep in there is beginning to overflow quite a bit.
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FTFY
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Helicopters and Drones
Common sense--real-time mapping didn't get in the way.
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Drones need the publicity.
Here they could have saved lives, and were denied.
As of this posting I have not received a US National Security Letter or any classified gag order from an agent of the United States
Encrypted with Morbius-Cochrane Perfect Steganographic Codec 1.2.001
Monday, September 16, 2013 11:10:09 AM
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drone me
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Time to shut down these out of control government types
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Damn it FEMA
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Eliminate FEMA
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Re: Eliminate FEMA
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F FEMA - if county locals asked for help, they get help...
County asking for help overrides FEMA, period.
Federal only gets to control what County lets them.
F'ing F'tards.
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On a serious note though, I am for things that work no matter what the reasons behind them, good or bad those are the things that we use to justify or condemn stuff, but in this case even though Falcon UAV could be accused of trying to get some good PR and marketing material they could use in the future for free (oh the horror), why not? They are a proven company, that already works and sells to law enforcement and other parts of the government, why not coordinate?
Ever since Bush Jr. screwed up FEMA hierarchy it was never the same again, they used to plan and put out good white papers on how to prepare oneself in case of disasters some of their gasifier designs are used to this day, but that was before Bush Jr.
Disaster after disaster FEMA seems to do nothing that is helpful, in fact it seems to be more harmful that good, sure in the 80's they still were incompetent and irresponsible but apparently after the 90's they decided to take it to the next level and be complete idiots about how to respond to crisis.
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There was a filed NOTAM
http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_4481.html
"No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described)."
Reason for NOTAM : TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR LARIMER COUNTY FLOODING SAR
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Do you have any evidence at all, or did you just decide they're evil out of thin air? Keep in mind they had been working with Boulder County emergency services previous to being shut down; they weren't just randomly butting in where they weren't wanted. Do you have information indicating that they were offering their services free of charge solely to get good press?
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Falcon UAV first has the nerve to conduct itself in this shameless and self serving way. Then have audacity to think that we are so stupid that we won't recognize they're ridiculous self promotion for what it is. Disgusting!
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See http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_4481.html
The 20+ helicopters could certainly engage in rescue operations, including landing.
As for mapping operations, FEMA has the authority to request military resources. Military overflights could provide whatever level of mapping precision required, full stop. If FEMA needed Mapping resources to conduct operations, they have access to far better technology than Falcon UAV can provide.
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Yeah, that would be a great use of money. Have military surveillance aircraft do some flyovers rather than getting the services for free.
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All of which is off point. The point is FEMA did not want Falcon UAV or anyone other than search and rescue in the airspace. A very sensible position to take. A necessary position to take from a logistics position. Falcon UAV must understand the situation, however they decided to go ahead with a very self serving PR stunt, with no regard for the people in harms way.
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I'm glad you were able to get that off your chest, now maybe you could share how you actually feel about it.
Chest beating and hand waving aside, I hear complaints about people not doing enough, complaints about people doing too much ... not so much.
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That is a fair criticism of my "perhaps" overly enthusiastic comment.
That said, I was not complaining about Falcon UAV's desire to help. My complaint is that once they were told that the best thing they could do was to keep they're aircraft out of the airspace. Something Falcon UAV should understand (the complexity of managing the SAR airspace) as an aerial reconnaissance company. They could have and should have left it at that, with FEMA aware that the resource is available if needed. What Falcon UAV did was create a press release with misleading information and fake outrage. Not what I would describe as helpful.
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I don't find that obvious at all.
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Simple
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I think it's time for the American people to shove back. We're not subservient to the dictates of FEMA nor any other federal-run agency.
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Yes.. I was paid 20 grand to sit on a fucking airstrip with bottled water. I'm not bitching about it, but honestly I would have rather just dropped the trailer. It made me feel like a dick to be taking so much money to do nothing while people were suffering..
Even Worse the owner operators there were being paid upwards of five grand per day.
I will never understand the reasoning of FEMA..
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Disaster airspace is closed to private craft
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Re: Disaster airspace is closed to private craft
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The Falcon UAS operators should know very well the FAA restrictions on flying UAS/UAVs within US domestic airspace - they know better than to just fly their aircraft without FAA approval. The FAA allows UAVs to fly on an extremely limited basis in the in US airspace primarily for safety reasons (read accidental collision with manned aircraft).
This article reads like the airspace above and around Boulder is already full of manned aircraft (they reference civil air patrol and private aircraft) so adding unmanned aircraft to the mix is potentially hazardous considering the lack of air traffic control at low altitudes.
It sounds like FEMA needs to do a better job of explaining why they don't wan the UAV flying (FAA regulations, safety) or, even better, working with the UAV operator to get a temporary permit if the UAV is being as effective as these articles claim.
TL;DR - FAA regulations don't allow UAVs to be flown ad hoc within US airspace for safety reasons. FEMA didn't explain; this article author doesn't seem to do research; manned aircraft + UAVs in uncontrolled airspace is a recipe for disaster.
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The were working with Boulder County EOC (Emergency Operations Center) after the flood to provide mapping services. Again, these people were not just randomly trying to fly their drones around uninvited. The authorities were already working with the during the disaster until FEMA stopped them. I'm not saying FEMA doesn't have the legal authority to do what they did - from what I've heard they have the authority to do pretty much anything. But I think you're painting a misleading picture of what was happening.
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It does not matter what Falcon UAV was doing before that. Falcon UAV and anyone else that might want to fly in that airspace were informed that "No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM" and the reason for the NOTAM is "TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR LARIMER COUNTY FLOODING SAR".
Being in the aviation business, one would expect that Falcon UAV would be familiar with these procedures and expect them as a matter of course. I have little doubt that they did. That means that they're press release was full to bursting with false shock and false outrage.
So, one of three things is true.
1. Falcon UAV made the press release in good faith. Meaning they are either so inexperienced or so incompetent that you do not want they're help.
2. Falcon UAV are so stupid that they truly don't understand the words "TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR LARIMER COUNTY FLOODING SAR". In which case you do not want them anywhere near the disaster area.
3. Falcon UAV new full well what they were doing with this blatant self serving PR stunt.
Me, I think it's number three, but hey I could be giving them too much credit. Maybe they really are a bunch of incompetent morons. But if that's true? How good do think they're maps are? hmmm..
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Bunch of amateurs trying to fly drones while you're busy looking for the seven hundred people who are missing? Check.
Constant flights of helicopters over flood-damaged areas? Check.
They will have time for mapping after the rescues are over. I think they were just jumping the gun in their eagerness to help.
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Arrested??
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the whole thing was BOGUS!
http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/355477/635/Colorado-Floods-Myths-debunked
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Re: the whole thing was BOGUS!
Guess who's website, if you guessed Falcon UAV's website, you guessed right.
Like I said shameless self promotion with no thought for the lives of the victims of this disaster. It's absolutely shameful in my opinion. I think they are a bunch of degenerate scumbags.
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Trying to correct misinformation
No, FEMA does not have any authority over air space. That is 100% FAA. Here is a quote from FEMA documentation, "DOT/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the operation and regulation of the U.S. National Airspace System, including during emergencies."
- http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-esf-01.pdf
Yes, the operators were legally operating the UAV so long as they have a pilot license and a Class 2 medical examination, then they are treated the same as any other pilot.
If they do not have a pilots license, they must have completed ground school and still have a Class 2 medical exam. The UAV must be registered with the FAA; including each piece having a serial number.
To fly for not-profit means being associated with a research entity under a Certificate of Authorization (CoA), such as a state university or the government. There isn't anything in the regulations stating that a company or individual that has complied with all FAA regulations cannot operate for profit, provided they are not trying to profit under a CoA.
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Re:
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Drone Capabilities
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reason why
http://grist.org/news/oil-and-fracking-chemicals-spill-into-colorados-floodwaters/
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floods ended
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Drones refused permission to help flood victims.
"The bigger the badge the smaller the man.'
He didn't mean height.
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Oblivious
First of all, regardless of who it was, be it FEMA or the FAA, they were in all rights to lock down the airspace. Here is why. Emergencies and disasters are already a breeding ground for unknowns, and as anyone who understands basic math can tell you, you can't solve anything with unknowns. For Falcon to just show up and want to start putting their technology in the air becomes an unknown.
Disaster response is not something that just happens. Organizations such as FEMA and associated organizations practice and drill year-round for these events. They run tabletop scenarios, have resource assignment and mapping, and put those paper plans into play in real-world exercises. So when Falcon comes along and starts putting their birds in the air, these devices do not fit in with the practiced plans. Pilots don't know that they are there, and in the rigors of trying to fly in rain and wind the UAV's are difficult to see. It's asking for the UAV to become rotor mince.
Falcon was shut down because of that one fact: they were an unknown that could potentially complicate a situation already filled with enough unknowns. I understand that Falcon only wanted to help and I applaud this, but I also question this as being their motive. If Falcon truly had an interest in humanitarian uses for their devices, why were they not offering their technology to FEMA for Free before such emergencies occurred? Why was Falcon not at the last tabletop exercise, or at the last drill? Why did Falcon not devote time and resources to training and preparation just like everyone else did?
It seems more to me that Falcon saw a press opportunity. They saw the chance to stamp their UAV ads with "The UAV that worked the Colorado Floods..." and went for it. PR, plain and simple. The way to tell if I am wrong or not is if Falcon does indeed start contributing time and resources to tabletop exercises and real-world drills. If they are willing to go through the whole process for "free" then perhaps they are sincere. I guess we'll see...
And frankly all of this governmental bashing and personal bashing in here, is any of it, even one person, based on either experience or training in emergency management? Does anyone else here truly see why Falcon can't just drop in at the last minute and be a planned asset? It's the same reason that ham radio operators can't expect to do it either. Hams have to train regularly and attend exercises in order to be ready to serve. Moreover their role within an emergency is already clearly defined and therefore ceases to be yet another "unknown". Finally, they truly do serve for "free", as federal law prohibits them from accepting any sort of financial recompense for their service. And even though they can't get paid and likely won't get more than a two or three word mention in any press coverage, they continue to train and attend training year-round. Where is Falcon?
Perhaps if people were to take time to look at this from an objective point of view rather than their own narrowly-biased viewpoints they would see the obvious. It's simple math: you have to eliminate unknowns to solve the equation.
Oh, and to Anonymous Coward: FEMA wants civilians to die? Can you please provide some hard documented evidence of this? And if you truly feel that the federal government wants you to kill over and become a statistic, I recommend choosing another landmass where FEMA isn't involved...
And before you even ask, I am not a FEMA or government employee of any kind... I'm just a regular joe. A regular joe that happens to have emergency management training and a shred of common sense...
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Isn't enough enough?
Disasters and emergencies are filled with unknowns. Regardless of how much any particular agency, FEMA included, practices their scenarios and plans, there will invariably exist conditions which occur that are not covered by the plans. Does this mean that FEMA is ill-prepared or wants people to die? Let's look at another agency that faces the same problem: EMS. When responding to medical or trauma emergencies, nearly none of them are textbook. Regardless of the years of experience, countless hours of drills and training, and years of schooling that a paramedic has, they will rarely encounter any two patients that are either identical or "textbook". Because of this invariable problem of unknowns, patients do sometimes die, despite the best efforts of the paramedic. And it happens often. Does this mean that paramedics want people to die? NO. I am speaking from experience as I was a paramedic for several years. Poop happens.
Variables and Unknowns. It is these conditions that make an emergency an emergency. If all of the factors were known and there existed no variables or unknowns, then there would be no emergency since any agency could simply follow the playbook and everything would be fine. Cause-effect. Problem-solution. 1+1=2. I challenge you to show me how Katrina or Colorado is so cut and dry. Show me that there are no variables or unknowns. It's simple math: the more unknowns you have, the more difficult the equation is to solve. Emergencies are the same way. FEMA, EMS, ARES, RACES, MARS, Fire Departments, National Guard, and every other involved agency understands the same fact. That is why they devote time to attending planning, exercises, and drills, so they are not unknowns. They know exactly what their role is, who they report to, and how things are to be accomplished. In this way they become part of an integrated team that is working together in roles that don't have to be carved out at the last minute. Everyone has a job and they know exactly what that job is. They also know how their job will affect the jobs of the other players. Paramedics and fire fighters know that they will need assistance from private construction companies (those that have attended the exercises) to clear heavy debris and remove hazards so they can safely reach the patients. And these construction company heavy equipment operators know that they will be making it possible to get to victims. They've even practiced working in tandem so that the job can be done safely even when both the equipment and paramedics are in the same place at the same time.
I'm not against private organizations wanting to help with disaster and emergency situations, in fact I'm all for it. The UAV's would have been a highly valuable asset in Colorado. First of all they would have allowed FEMA to keep some or even most of the rescue helicopters staged on the ground, which would have saved fuel and also presented less of a risk to the lives of the pilots and crews. The UAV's could have also been used to assess the areas into which the helicopters would have to fly, pointing out hazards and even determining which helicopter would be best suited to that environment. These are just a few of the benefits that the UAV's could offer, but only if they are an integrated part of the plan. Having Falcon work side by side with FEMA BEFORE an incident gives the UAV pilots experience in what FEMA will be looking to know. It would also give FEMA experience with the capabilities of the UAV's and the pilots.
Why is this so hard to see? The airspace had already been restricted yet Falcon chose to say "who gives a rip" and fly anyway, and everyone here wants to say that FEMA is evil and wants to watch people die? Falcon blatantly ignored a no-fly order and made no prior efforts to offer their services during the planning and training that takes place before an emergency; does this sound like a team-playing organization? Everyone wants to say that FEMA is operating for their own secret people-killing agenda, but nobody wants to recognize that Falcon was trying to operate "lone wolf" by their own personal agenda? It seems to me that if FEMA wanted people to die there's much better ways to accomplish this besides committing huge amounts of time and effort to saving lives: like not showing up at all.
I hope that someone from Falcon reads this because I offer this challenge: If you are serious about wanting to offer your equipment, pilots, and services free of charge to public service, then begin coordinating with FEMA. Present them your offer. Have your execs, pilots, engineers, and other personnel undergo training in Incident Command and National Response Framework. Attend meetings, planning sessions, exercises, and drills. By doing this then FEMA will certainly be able to utilize your capabilities in future disasters, as a part of a coordinated team-effort to save lives.
And to the folks here who repeatedly keep saying that FEMA wants people to die, I say back it up with something concrete. Show us, in documented form, where FEMA says that they want, prefer, or need a body count. Otherwise such claims begin to border on defamation of character and slander.
I can assure you, however, that this isn't the case. The entire purpose of FEMA is to help in times of disaster and to save lives. And just like paramedics, they can't save every single person. Some will die despite their best efforts. But it is NOT because they wanted it to happen.
I think enough is enough, and enough groundless and factless bashing has occurred. The government isn't some evil beast that kills its own people for its amusement. But if you think it is, then perhaps you'd prefer the friendlier climate in North Korea, Syria, China, the Middle East, or somewhere else like this that goes above and beyond to cherish the life of every single one of their dear citizens.
Like I said, enough is enough...
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An evacuee prospective
I have been flying RCs for over 35 years, I have a pilots license (not current) I've worked with the FAA at Denver Center as a software engineer for 12 years. Recently I've worked for Honeybee Robotics as a Facility Manager and fabricator who is working on some UAV projects. I feel I have a very unique perspective on this matter.
When all these comments on the were being made on the 16th I was on my dirt bike trying scouting out an evacuation route for families with farm animals, chickens, goats, etc. Neighbors were told they were not allowed on the Chinooks. I found an old stagecoach route from 36 to Spring Gulch went down Spring Gulch and found the Apple Valley bridge still standing made it into Lyons and went to talk to the fire chief, we briefed each other I showed him the route I took and remember his last words to me 'we're stretched thin, (in Lyons) you guys are pretty much on your own up there' that was all I needed to hear you might think that was disheartening but information is gold and now I knew the truth finally someones telling me the truth, I was delighted at that. Not that the Pinewood Springs fire department was lying to us but they were pretty much saying whatever they needed to get people to evacuate, they did a good job of this and they were right in doing so.
During that time the area looked like a war zone Chinooks and Blackhawks flying low level all over, it was an amazing site to see you never see many aircraft around here but to see so many flying at low level like this was something words can't describe.
I have a huge interest in UAV flight and am working on my own projects in the area, if you have an some unquie information in the field please contact me. Anyway, imagine piloting during that day your looking out for the terrain other aircraft, paying attention to instruments, navigating and now you need to worried about a small UAV crashing through the windshield of the chopper your flying? The damage was already done, people needed to be evacuated, you try living without power, water, phone, internet, any communication of any kind. You look into your neighbors eyes and see their fear of not knowing what comes next. Then you'll realize mapping can be done after all is safe. People were doing things they are not used to and the fear of someone getting hurt was very real, and you don't want to get hurt when your not sure you can get medical response in a timely manner.
Sure you can say that maybe a UAV could've spotted some evacuee but at what cost. aircraft with people on board an aircraft are far more likely to do a much better job of spotting what needs to be done than a little camera on a UAV�sorry its the truth!
Don't get me wrong I am a believer in UAVs and what they can do and the cost saving that can be achieved but when you get right down to it, do you want to be on that chopper as a passenger with who knows how many UAVs flying around at low level, think about that, I know I don't.
All in all, FEMA did an outstanding job, its hard to me to say a government entity did a good job but I don't think if I ran the outfit that I could have done the job they did, I'm proud of them. The National Guard, I've never really understood what the did, now I'm embarrased at myself for not serving in the National Guard, those guy are amazing, and dare I say it make me proud to be an American again.
In this day and age in America I am disgusted with our bought out politicians, scum of the earth in my opinion. But they will never be able to put down the American spirit of the common people, and the common people will always rally when disaster strikes�hopefully you'll never have to experience a natural disaster or any other disaster, but if you do I'll be there for you through FEMA and the National Guard the greatest concepts of government I've ever known.
Steve Fitzgerald
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