A coupla days ago I received an email from two friends bemoaning the fact that UAS (drones) would eliminate pilots. I answered with a “Que Sera” attitude—you know, “What will be, will be.”
Then today AOPA’s Aviation e-Brief cited an article from General Aviation News, pointing out that the “FAA recently granted San Diego Gas & Electric a Special Airworthiness Certificate for a small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS).” I went to the original article and learned that the utility plans to use UAS for “emergency situations” and for “aerial inspections.”
Hey—this is beginning to get right personal! I used to fly power-line patrols for a utility in Alabama when I was working for Montgomery Aviation. (Actually, I was the backup power-line pilot. My real job was selling and insuring airplanes. The real power-line pilot was the legendary Ed Long, who at the time of his death was the undisputed highest-time pilot in the history of aviation, with meticulous log books totaling just shy of 65,000 hours. When Ed was not in town I sometimes flew the line for him in the Super Cub.)
My friends’ email predicted what would happen to other pilots someday, but the article spoke of a flying job I used to do myself. I didn’t realize they would do that so soon. Alas, I feel so useless!
Oh well, in truth, I’m in favor of the growth of commercial drones and have sharply criticized the guvmint for delaying such use while the rest of the world moves ahead. Frankly, it’s high time they started certificating them for commercial use.
Let the good times roll!
