Unmanned aviation.

• Author: Rhude, Andy
• Position: Readers' Forum

* Regarding the Oct. 18 article, "Flying Drones in U.S. Airspace Not As Easy As It Looks," I don't get this rush to fill the U.S. skies with unmanned aerial vehicles. UAVs were built and fielded for two main reasons: To get an observation aircraft airborne for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) for long periods of time behind enemy lines without the need for life support systems and to take pilots out of danger. Neither of these apply to civilian situations. If you need a pilot on the ground to fly these, put him in the air.

An aircraft that has the range and abilities of serious aircraft for airborne observation not required to operate behind enemy lines is far cheaper and easier to build and for a pilot...