The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) offers new poll data, showing worldwide public perception of civil and commercial uses for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is unmistakably positive. The findings also indicate public opinion that governments should resolve challenges such as perceived privacy issues and UAS airspace regulations in order to increase non-military use. The Christian Science Monitor conducted the poll among its on-line readers.
“This poll demonstrates significant support for civilian UAS applications among the populace, both in America and internationally,” says AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey. “The U.S. aerospace industry is now escalating its role in supporting government actions that will provide extensive new benefits from UAS.”
The poll findings include the following:
- Only 25% of the public is “very well aware” of current and potential non-military uses for UAS
- Border protection, law enforcement surveillance and search and rescue are the top three perceived, non-military uses for UAS
- 54% of the public favors increased non-military use of UAS (20% neutral, 27% opposed)
- Privacy and safety are the top issues the public wants government to resolve relative to UAS in order to increase civil use.
UAS are currently in use in a wide variety of applications worldwide, from monitoring flooding in the Czech Republic to wildlife conservation efforts in South Africa. One area where the United States could see significant benefit is in fighting wildfires – such as the historically damaging fires burning in Colorado this week – because UAS can fly in conditions where human pilots would be unable to see because of the conditions.
Research indicates the worldwide market for UAS over the next decade would exceed US$89 billion and create more than 100,000 jobs.