FAA Proposes Nearly $2 Million Fine Against Drone Operator

[PoliticAverse]

Last edited Tue Oct 6, 2015, 04:42 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: ABC News

The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday proposed a record $1.9 million fine against an aerial photography company for flying drones in crowded New York and Chicago airspace without permission.

SkyPan International Inc. of Chicago operated 65 unauthorized flights between March 2012 and December 2014 in some of the nation's most congested airspace, the FAA said in a statement.

Forty-three flights were in the heavily restricted Class B New York airspace without air traffic control clearance, the agency said. Class B airspace is generally from the ground up to 10,000 feet in altitude and in an approximate 40 mile radius around an airport.

The drones also lacked the two-way radio, transponder and altitude-reporting equipment required of manned aircraft.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/faa-proposes-million-fine-drone-operator-34283235

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FAA press release: https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=19555

Exemption granted to SkyPan International by the FAA:
http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/333_authorizations/media/SkyPan_International_11352.pdf

Washington Post article on the story...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/faa-wants-to-fine-skypan-19-million-for-reckless-drone-operations/2015/10/06/2050ca2e-6c34-11e5-aa5b-f78a98956699_story.html

[BlueJazz]

1. Good. We all knew this was going to happen. Not just with this company but also some...

...of the dimwits in our society.
"Wouldn't it be really, really cool to see a 747 take off from a front view. ?"

[Blue_Tires]

2. Good...They knew that shit was highly illegal and did it anyway...

[scubadude]

3. What a joke for the hobbyist...

So, I would like to use a drone in my backyard to view, take pics and possibly film my property from the air. Lets say from an altitude of 50 feet. That sounds like a good scenario. Gee, that is in the range of the ground to 10000 feet, so it's a class B airspace. We are talking about me in my back yard, in airspace that is extremely unlikely to see any air traffic. If I do this, will I face a possible huge fine? Sounds like it....

[wildbilln864]

4. are you within a 40 mile radius of an airport? n/t

[scubadude]

5. I have read about these restrictions, and they are ridiculous.

I would guess that 50% of the entire countries population lives within 40 miles of an airport, but my post was hypothetical. My nephew, however, is a budding film maker living in Chicago. I spoke with him about it and he would love to use them on weddings and the like, but he can not do so thanks to the drakonian laws regarding their use in urban areas. There would be no way he could ever endanger any aircraft from the altitudes that he would use them at. As a matter of fact, there are no aircraft at those altitudes. I think there would be serious trouble if any helicopter or airplane was flying at 50 feet in and around Chicago. I mean, the buildings are way higher than that...

[scubadude]

7. Here is a hobbyist example.

http://myfirstdrone.com/tutorials/buying-guides/best-drones-for-sale/

[Angleae]

8. Who isn't?

Take where I live (Seattle area). There is nowhere other than 40+ miles inland that isn't within 40 miles of an airport, from Tacoma in the south to Everett in the north (+surrounding suburbs).

[wildbilln864]

9. I

isn't!

[Angleae]

10. Live out in the boonies do you?

[wildbilln864]

11. nope! n/t

[Jesus Malverde]

6. This seems like a power grab to regulate drones.

They were flown without the necessary air-traffic-control clearance and were not equipped with two-way radios, transponders and altitude-reporting equipment. The drones also lacked airworthiness certificates and registrations.

Remote controlled planes have never required any of the above. As to a drone taking down a plane, it would have to get sucked into an engine.

[2015already]

12. Thats not true

A couple of things. A drone would be capable of ripping the skin of a plane depending on the speed of the aircraft.

California cited drones being used by news as a hazard in the recent forest fires, to the fire fighting planes and helicopter crews.

With that said, I was thinking about buying one to check the surfaces of my pool solar units on my second story roof to tell if they need to be cleaned.


Another thought, how high would a good drone fly upward if something went wrong with the craft or remote device?

There has been a rash of laser point to craft, a drone would make hiding ones location for such mischief much easier.

[mcjimmyv]

14. Amazon Do not seem to be put off

Amazon do not seem to be put off by the latest FAA regulations and in fact have invested a massive amount of money in an attempt to meet the latest FAA guidelines. The also are looking at other countries for their planned drone delivery service which to be honest seems a bit far fetched. Apparently the are close to starting delivery in the UK - http://smashingdrones.com/amazon-makes-waves-in-drone-testing-across-the-uk/