The Oregon Army National Guard launched a drone in Pendleton, the first-ever flight of an unmanned military aircraft through civilian airspace.
The Oregon Army National Guard launched a drone in Pendleton, the first-ever flight of an unmanned military aircraft through civilian airspace.
Until now, military drones have been confined to restricted airspace above U.S. military bases. The Guard expects to initially fly the four unmanned planes based here twice a month, and later expand the flights to once a week over the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport in Pendleton and wheat fields to the north, said Pat Caldwell, a Guard spokesman.
The possibility of widespread drone use has prompted debate in the Oregon Legislature this year, pitting concerns over domestic surveillance against the promise of a tantalizing new industry. Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, and Rep. John Huffman, R-The Dalles, introduced legislation that would criminalize the use of drones to fire missiles or spy on people.
Read more at OregonLive.com.
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