Local newspaper the Voice of San Diego has reported that they are suing the Federal Aviation Administration over their refusal to answer questions about the flight of the 79-ft. wingspan, six-ton surveillance drone over a major population center in Southern California. Why should the people underneath the drone get to know the answers, right? The FAA’s reason for refusal doesn’t add up: “We can’t get into details about a military aircraft program.” Military. This, despite the fact that both NASA and General Atomics have been saying for the past nine months that the flight is completely civilian/commercial in nature.
Owner/Operator: General Atomics, a privately-owned civilian company.
Mission: To demonstrate civilian/commercial applications of large drones.
Sponsoring Agency: NASA, a civilian agency.
SkyGuardians’ FAA certification: Civil.
Somebody’s lying. Good on ya’, Voice of San Diego.