Does it do the shopping and ballance the check book too?

 Even the DOD knows it’s a free market

I was speaking with one of my contacts who makes aerial cameras and sensors who told me the DOD put out a Request for Information (RFI) for new UAV/Drone technologies and they didn’t open it up to the old guard, Northrup Grumman, In-Situ, AeroVironment and Lockheed Martin. He told me that the submission from new manufacturers was overwhelming. They are tired of overpaying for substandard product. That should be a warning to the FAA who is trying to force the same overpriced systems onto the commercial market. They won’t stand for it and a judge won’t allow it. As one judge has already stated “The FAA doesn’t have the authority to regulate commerce”. When you here the phrase “In the interest of public safety” thrown around by the FAA, that pertains to commercial airliners carrying passengers. UAS/Drones don’t carry passengers “Yet”!

I know that Patrick Egan of SUAS News is pushing for an exemption for UAS under 4lbs. I think that is going to be good for the industry. I would like to see it up to 55lbs. Basically that would mean these smaller systems wouldn’t require the operator to have a license, once the FAA decides what kind of license is needed. These overpriced technologies can’t be pushed down the public’s throat. They can buy off politicians but the commercial market is all about efficiency and economics. The public will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for technologies but they have to be worth the price. One of my SEAL Team buddies reminded me the other day about a story I was telling in the locker room about my now ex-wife wanted me to buy her a Kirby vacuum cleaner for $2,400 and I said “For $2,400 I better be able to drive it to work!” I saw a Bentley going through the McDonald’s drive through tonight that cost about $250,000. It looked nice but I am sure it has many more features that other nice cars like a Ford “Fusion” but get the jobs done. If the FAA is going to certify systems that are priced in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, they better certify systems priced significantly less with the same capabilities and those manufactures who are trying to use their inside connections to push their high priced products onto the market, they better do the grocery shopping and balance the checkbook too!