Sen Andy Kim: "deeper analysis" of drone sightings

[Dennis Donovan]

Andy Kim
17h
After going out with police to observe reports of possible drones, I was with the help of civilian pilots and others able to do deeper analysis and concluded that most of the possible drone sightings that were pointed out to me were almost certainly planes. Let me explain: THREAD


Andy Kim
17h
While not receiving any feedback/info from federal officials, I reached out to civilian aviators/others for analysis. I used public flight tracking tools to recreate the conditions of my time out. For instance I was at Round Valley Reservoir at 9:20pm and shot this video. 2/9
Video in tweet below

Andy Kim
17h
While I didn’t observe a plane in the flight tracker at that moment that night, I was able to pull up more detailed flight data subsequently and spotted this one small plane taking the path of what was pointed out to me the other night as a possible drone flying near us. 3/9


Andy Kim
17h
I share this because this is the kind of analysis we need but are not getting from the federal government to explain this situation. FAA experts have much more experience/resources to identify aircraft. Instead I’m left to draw on civilian support and public apps. 4/9

Andy Kim
17h
I don’t discount others may have seen actual drone activity, and not all I saw is fully explained by flight paths, but much of it was. And I think the process through which I got confirmation points to the kind of explanation we need from gov authorities to address the public’s concern. 5/9

Andy Kim
17h
Press releases from federal agencies that don’t share analysis of evidence and instead just reiterate statements aren’t helpful in this moment. We have a lot of distrust in politics/government right now, and we need federal gov to respect the right for the public to be informed. 6/9

Andy Kim
17h
Federal experts should provide information and guidance to the public including local police departments like the one that took me out to help them decipher what they are seeing. Instead myself and others requesting are getting no feedback. 7/9

Andy Kim
17h
I think this situation in some ways reflects this moment in our country. People have a lot anxiety right now about the economy, health, security etc. And too often we find that those charged with working on these issues don’t engage the public with the respect and depth needed. 8/9

Andy Kim
I’ll keep pressing to get answers about possible drones and help us understand what’s going on. On top of that, I’ll push for a government that is more responsive to the people. A customer service governance that treats people with respect, transparency and accountability. END
3:47 PM · Dec 14, 2024

Thank you Senator - this is leadership!

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[PCIntern]

1. Now THAT'S funny, Mr Senator-elect...

Get a phone call or two, did we now? 🤣

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Why are you mocking him?

At least HE'S doing something.

[PCIntern]

3. Well...

This is how it works my friend…someone sees something atypical…. we have all seen planes in the night sky. We all know exactly what they look and sound like. But this particular vision we have is not usual, it may make unusual sounds or no sound, it may exhibit non-ballistic trajectory, it may have a shape which is not known or is unfamiliar to the observer.

All of a sudden, it’s just a plane, or a weather, balloon, or swamp gas, or someone threw a trashcan lid up in the air. I have lived this since the 1950s. I have heard this 1000 times.

I’m sorry if I appear to be cynical, I’m not being degrading or negative, but it reminds me so very much of what soon-to-be-Senator Arlen Specter told witnesses in Dealey Plaza that what they had seen, heard, and even smelled (exploded gunpowder) was not what they witnessed and they best better recant.

[Dennis Donovan]

4. Your post was mocking him for earnestly double-checking what he saw the previous night

Thanks for the explanation, nonetheless.

[PCIntern]

5. Yes. I was mocking him

It was an attempt to rationalize what he or his staff more likely, obviously considered a serious error of judgement. Amateur hour and I like him. Imagine if I didn’t.

[Dennis Donovan]

6. I don't believe his first attempt to ID the drones was "a serious error of judgement" n/t

[2naSalit]

7. He's no longer Senator - elect...

Was sworn in last week along with Sen. Schiff.

[PCIntern]

8. Ok. Thx.