Horsham: No Plans to Oppose Drone Center

After hearing a passionate plea from a resident requesting that local laws be enacted to potentially prevent future drone operations in Horsham, Township Council President Mark McCouch pondered another question.

What constitutes a drone? McCouch said he has a remote-controlled helicopter, could that be defined as a drone? 

McCouch said the governing body is not concerned about the implications of the federal government's decision to install a drone command center at the Horsham Air Guard Station. Once in place, a pilot and senor operator in Horsham would remotely fly the MQ-9 Reaper from a virtual cockpit on the installation overseas.

But, Horsham resident Andrew Starr, who submitted a written statement which he also read to the governing body Wednesday night, said he and other residents are concerned with drone use in the states.

"We all need to be aware of what is happening in our own backyard and the implications," Starr said, reading from the letter. "Drones are now the weapon of choice in the expanding an egregious war on terror."

What do you think about the drone command center coming to Horsham? Tell us in the comments.

While the aircraft for Horsham's drone command center would be located elsewhere, Starr said he and others who oppose its establishment "fear for their privacy and ultimately their liberty."

"The battlefield for the war on terror is now on our soil," Starr said. 

According to Fox News, the FAA predicts there could be 10,000 drones in the skies within five years. And Starr said he hoped to at least prevent them from becoming airborne in Horsham. Along with his letter, Starr provided a sample resolution for the council to consider.

"We will review that," McCouch told him.

But, afterward, McCouch told Patch that the council has no plans to enact legislation to prevent drones. While he acknowledged that "there's a growing popularity" for remotely piloted aircraft, McCouch said he doesn't think other drone operations will be an issue anytime in the near future. 

As for the portion of the 238-acre property where the drone command center will be established, McCouch said the council simply can't say no.

"We don't have any authority over that whatsoever," McCouch said. "We can't zone it. We can't impose any ordinances against it."