Comment from George Avila Jr
George Avila JrSupportUnion
Summary: A switchperson at Union Pacific Railroad argues that drones create unnecessary hazards, distractions, and security concerns in active rail yards. The commenter supports the proposed restriction to prevent drones from operating in close proximity to critical infrastructure.
As a switchperson of 13 years at Alfalfa Yard in El Paso, TX for Union Pacific Railroad, to me active rail yards are already dangerous enough without drones creating distractions overhead.
Don't be deceive; drones are not used for safety but rather used for surveillance and operational testing creating an unnecessary hazard and security concern for us on the ground.
Drone use should not normalized in critical infrastructure environments.
Normalizing drones flying over in train yards, disctracting crews working handling the thousands of gallons of hazardous chemicals can’t be allowed to happen. When we see a drone, we won’t know if it is an influcuencer recording the yard, an MYO trying to test crews or God forbid an act of terrorism in progress.