Initial Flights Being Conducted Away From Populated Areas

The Arlington, TX police department has started testing two electric unmanned helicopters in hopes of adding the aircraft to its law enforcement arsenal.

The aircraft are reportedly being test flown in an unpopulated area near Lake Arlington Dam during daylight hours. The flights are being conducted in a small restricted airspace, must remain in sight of the pilot, and fly no higher than 400 feet.

Television station KXAS reports that the department is the first one located in a densely populated area to receive FAA approval to fly UAVs. The 20-inch-long helos are capable of carrying high-resolution still and video cameras with night vision capability.

The department hopes to have FAA approval to expand the areas in which the aircraft can fly in September, with mission-ready testing planned for January. They say the aircraft can be a valuable and versatile tool in a number of law-enforcement and public safety situations.

But some are concerned that they could raise privacy issues. Police counter that argument by saying that the UAVs would only be used in situations where they would normally fly a manned helicopter.

FMI: www.arlingtonpd.org