nasa launches predator uav to help california fire trouble

[tom d. friedman]

amazing.... just heard on cnn that nasa has launched a predator u.a.v. to help pin point fire hot spots in ravaged california. it can locate the hot spots, & field the info to ready firefighters. this really puts a leg up on the fire fighting strategy, somebody used their brain & should get a big pat on the back, as conventional aircraft couldn't accomplish this with all the smoke & ash spewing everywhere. a predator with peaceful purposes.... too cool

[daveymac82c]

That's pretty awesome. I think it's a great idea. It's sorta like an AWACS for fire-fighting. Ok, well, not exactly, but you get the idea.

The only thing I'm unhappy about is that it might put some pilots out of the job.

Cheers,

David

P.S. I'll pat the back of the person that actually got the AUV in the air for this purpose. Good job!

[mrhenniger]

The only thing I'm unhappy about is that it might put some pilots out of the job.

I don't think so. The current spotters can't see through smoke like the UAV can. The result will be that the current tanker pilots will be more effective.

If however they come up with a UAV tanker that can drop just enough in just the right spot... well that would be revolutionary, but perhaps only in the clean-up role. In in a large fire I think they need a few 747s, and a fleet of CL-415s for the primary attack which could then be followed up by a UAV picking out the left overs.

Mike

Last edited by mrhenniger on Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:26 am, edited 1 time in total.

[bdk]

The only thing I'm unhappy about is that it might put some pilots out of the job.

I'll bet there is a "pilot" and about 5 other people required to support the UAV activity. They just don't push the "on" button and go out for coffee during the entire flight. Anyone know for sure?

[Jet Mech]

In the USAF each UAV is flown by a crew of two, a pilot and sensor operator. Not to mention a local pilot at the actual airfield where the UAV is phyically located, who does TO and Landing. The normal crews are in Nevada, encluding the missions flow in the war areas.

So no humans loose out being behind a stick.