U.S. REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD ROGERS (R-KY) CHAIRMAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD ROGERS (R-KY)
HOLDS HEARING ON FISCAL YEAR 2006 HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS:
Washington Transcript Service; 3/15/2005
Representative Jo Bonner of Alabama
.......And we're pioneering, as you said Mr. Chairman, the use of
unmanned aerial vehicles. We're the first civilian law-enforcement agencyin the world to do this, to establish an aerial
patrol of significant segments of our borders.
........but one of the things we're looking at, which I wouldn't say is totally proven yet, is unmanned aerial vehicles. And
that is that we're looking for something that would do an air patrol so we don't need to have a Border Patrol agent in a
Bronco every quarter mile along the entire 2,000 mile border........
BISHOP: My time is up I think I've been indicated by the chairman. But in a follow-up round I do want to follow up on
the high-altitude airships, because I've seen some technology where one aerosphere could cover approximately
78,000 square miles and 11 of them could cover the entire exposure that we have.
ROGERS: All right.
Let me ask you quickly now about -- I want to mention to you quickly about the UAVs. They are an advantage in
certain respects. But there are some restrictions, are there not? For example, are unmanned aerial vehicles restricted
to just either military or restricted
airspace and cannot operate in public airspace?
BONNER: Well, we have to get clearance from the FAA to operate the UAVs in airspace that isn't, let's say, already
restricted airspace. And for the most part, the border area -- take the Mexican border with the U.S. -- is not restricted
airspace.
ROGERS: Yes, and the illegal aliens can hear the aircraft as they approach and seek cover before the camera
reaches them. We've been told stories of illegals avoiding detection by simply putting a blanket over themselves
before the UAV gets to them.
BONNER: Depends how high it's flying. I mean, it can fly highenough where it can't be heard. But there are things to
work out here.
HOLDS HEARING ON FISCAL YEAR 2006 HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS:
Washington Transcript Service; 3/15/2005
Representative Jo Bonner of Alabama
.......And we're pioneering, as you said Mr. Chairman, the use of
unmanned aerial vehicles. We're the first civilian law-enforcement agencyin the world to do this, to establish an aerial
patrol of significant segments of our borders.
........but one of the things we're looking at, which I wouldn't say is totally proven yet, is unmanned aerial vehicles. And
that is that we're looking for something that would do an air patrol so we don't need to have a Border Patrol agent in a
Bronco every quarter mile along the entire 2,000 mile border........
BISHOP: My time is up I think I've been indicated by the chairman. But in a follow-up round I do want to follow up on
the high-altitude airships, because I've seen some technology where one aerosphere could cover approximately
78,000 square miles and 11 of them could cover the entire exposure that we have.
ROGERS: All right.
Let me ask you quickly now about -- I want to mention to you quickly about the UAVs. They are an advantage in
certain respects. But there are some restrictions, are there not? For example, are unmanned aerial vehicles restricted
to just either military or restricted
airspace and cannot operate in public airspace?
BONNER: Well, we have to get clearance from the FAA to operate the UAVs in airspace that isn't, let's say, already
restricted airspace. And for the most part, the border area -- take the Mexican border with the U.S. -- is not restricted
airspace.
ROGERS: Yes, and the illegal aliens can hear the aircraft as they approach and seek cover before the camera
reaches them. We've been told stories of illegals avoiding detection by simply putting a blanket over themselves
before the UAV gets to them.
BONNER: Depends how high it's flying. I mean, it can fly highenough where it can't be heard. But there are things to
work out here.
| Harold Rogers (R-KY) |
| Jo Bonner (R-AL) |