Nano Tube Tech for De-icing UAV's

GREAT! Now, "they" can spy on/kill us in poor conditions, too!

Drones are small, and can be shot down with nanobullets; i.e., buckshot. Think of them as expensive glorified skeet. Just don't get trigger-happy if Amazon is delivering you a bottle of Green Chartreuse.

Recently lost my PCP (doctor) to a light aircraft accident. It involved a collision between the aircraft and a local TV news tower. The conditions were extremely bad that day at this location, but where he took off, the flight conditions are probably OK. He had over 20 years experience flying private aircraft.

Here's what the buzz was: (1) he was on final approach and sent around by the tower without really giving him a chance to relay critical information, due to other (commercial traffic) allegedly in the local area, and (2) icing conditions were present all during his local approach and manuevers. Cloud deck was quite lower than usual, and even below cloud deck, the visibility was near zero, requiring all instruments flying.

It is suspected by some (including myself) that ice formation was heavy enough to reduce altitude holding capability, in spite of outside conditions, if he had had de-icing capability (that worked) on that 6-seater, one engine plane, he would have made a safe landing. IMHO, not as flight expert, but as one who is all for improved flight safety systems when they become available.

The life saved may be someone who could save your life someday.

Good Call James Stewart . Perhaps the 6 seater was a Cherokee Six . Sorry for your loss.I have flown many hours chartering similar 6 seat single engine aircraft , and have encountered many instances where the aircraft developed airframe ice . Very scary , a product like this could very well save numerous lives , and airplanes , wing ice accumulates quickly , and small aircraft have no defense , it will drag them down , plus it will coat the windshield , maybe a major factor in your friend's death . Piper Cherokee windshields are plexiglass , and thick , but a thin layer of freezing rain and you can't see what's ahead of you , you become limited to flying towards a beacon , and if cold weather and cloud cover keep you down low , those towers can get you quite easily . An iced up windshield is like someone throwing paint all over your front window , it happens fast , and you're stuck in there , trying to fly home ...

The part that I don't get is why commercial aircraft in the zone near the airfield (with de-icing equipment got first shot at landing whilst the good doctor was waved off for a circle.

Unfortunately the decision on landing order was probability based on the Totality of Consequence - one life verses many.

Right. The controllers live in the pressure cooker, not me. They only have seconds to make such decisions usually, and if they get it right, no praise, but if they get it wrong, then hell to pay. It was a majorly crappy day to be flying to our field.