FAA approves drone to fly along border from Brownsville to El Paso
June 23, 2010 2:49 PM
The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a flight plan that will allow an unmanned aerial vehicle to fly along the border from El Paso to Brownsville.
The announcement comes after several federal legislators sent letters to FAA Administrator J. Randolph Babbit urging him to open airspace above the border that would let U.S. Customs and Border Protection fly UAVs, as part of an effort to secure the nation's border.
"Today marks a critical next step in securing the Texas-Mexico border. By permanently positioning this aircraft in Texas, CBP can further combat illegal activity along our southern border," said U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who made the announcement.
For more on this story read Thursday's Brownsville Herald.
