Governors See Economic Growth, Opponents Wary

While the FAA and air traffic planners worry about the day unmanned aerial vehicles become a common sight in our skies, two eastern states are lobbying the US Department of Defense to bring it on. Governors Bob McDonnell of Virginia (top photo) and Martin O'Malley of Maryland (lower photo) have written the US Department of Transportation to request their region be selected for a new UAS test range called for in both the National Defense Authorization Act and an FAA reauthorization bill.

Hamptonroads.com reports the letter highlights the region's defense industry expertise and history of UAV design and testing. They also say the region enjoys airspace suitable for testing. But not all the news site's readers think it's a good idea. Some comments on the site note the increasing potential for abuse of drones in civilian surveillance, and one decries the region's growing reliance on federal government jobs.

McDonnell says there's been no response to the letter yet from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

FMI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Defense_Authorization_Act_for_Fiscal_Year_2012