Says who? (I'm not calling you out; I just hadn't heard this, and I'm curious.)
Says the FAA. With special approval yes, but they are officially NOT approved.
In 2005, 1st Air Force requested unmanned aircraft system support to provide video for search and rescue purposes in the wake of Katrina; however, because of national airspace restrictions, the request was cancelled.
"
We couldn't fly because we didn't have the authorization, and there wasn't a sufficient amount of time to accomplish the necessary coordination," said Tom Thibodeau, ACC unmanned aerial systems management consultant. "
Now, we have a process to receive approval to fly Predators within hours as opposed to weeks."
Hurricane Katrina emphasized not only why it's important to have assets readily available,
but also to have an understanding in place between the FAA and the military, said Lt. Col. Matthew Bannon, ACC chief of unmanned aerial systems. And now that Predators are
authorized to fly in direct support of disaster relief, these taskings must be balanced with their ongoing overseas missions. With the exception of one training squadron, 100 percent of ACC's Predator assets are currently supporting operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Mod note. Full story available
here