Drone entered restricted DC airspace

Navy operators lost control of a Fire Scout unmanned helicopter earlier this month and didn’t regain control before the drone entered restricted airspace around the nation's capital. Once communications were re-established, the Fire Scout returned to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The Navy is calling the problem a "software" issue. A program that was to have brought the UAV back to base in a communication failure did not work as intended. A software modification has been developed, according to the Navy. All six Fire Scouts were grounded after the incident, but are expected to return to flight status next month. (Sources: New York Times, Navy Times, 08/25/10) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.