Drone pilot being fined $10,000 by FAA

[Jim Michael]

Chuck makes a couple of good points. The failure to implement whatever rules they intend is holding back the technological progress that might be made here, to the advantage of countries which have been more proactive. Also, FAA has generally been well behind the ball when it comes to approval of new and useful technology in aircraft. There is a very arduous engineering approval process that takes a long time to work through the system and is very expensive - one reason you don't see so many external camera mount systems. FAA did a better job with the new sport pilot class of aircraft which rely more on standards developed by industry groups. That segment has been doing very well. They also did away with the old medical standards for that class and you don't have people dying of heart attacks and crashing into buildings.

[Warren Kawamoto]

Here's the defense attorney speaking about the case.

The 1st FAA Prosecution of a Civilian Drone UAV - YouTube

[Chuck Spaulding]

What he said!

[Brian Drysdale]

Basically the FAA is behind where it should be (considering other countries have sorted it out) and there seems to be a divide in the US on this technology, with issues about privacy etc. being brought up state to state. In the end, a court will decide this particular test case.

[Gordon Hoffman]

Originally Posted by David Heath

This has been said so many times now that I've lost track.

Your example above is another example of people taking risks with their OWN lives and welfare - not those of third parties. If anyone chooses to take part in such activities, it's their business. They are the ones who get hurt if their actions go wrong.

Not always. If they require rescuing then somebody may have to risk their life to make that happen.

Gordon

[Nigel Barker]

Originally Posted by David Heath

Have you read the link to the situation in the UK that Brian posted? It's similar in many ways to what Jim talks about - 3 classes of aircraft (here sub-7kg, 7-20kg, and over 20kg) and a distinction between hobbyist and commercial use. Fly a sub-7kg unit for non-commercial use and there's not a lot of restriction.

That's not quite right. Flying a sub-7kg model aircraft there are precious few regulations & it's just the same as it has always been with the onus on the operator to fly safely (& keep under 400' & away from airports) BUT as soon as you put a camera on board then you are flying a Small Unmanned Surveillance Aircraft (SUSA) & a whole load of extra restrictions were introduced just 3-4 years ago e.g. not flying within 50m of any person or "within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft;". Check out the Air Navigation Order 2009 paragraph 166 for model aircraft & paragraph 167 for SUSA http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP393.pdf These restrictions theoretically make it impossible to fly a Parrot AR.Drone in your back yard although legal inside your house.

Commercial aerial work with a SUSA has extra regulations including compulsory training & licensing. Steps to obtain your BNUC-S and CAA permission for aerial work to fly a UAS commercially in UK airspace

[Chuck Spaulding]

Drone On: the Future of UAV Over the US - YouTube

[Warren Kawamoto]

Here is the actual document of the FAA's response.
FAA Response to Raphae... - Brought to you by View Docs Online

[Brian Drysdale]

It could be an expensive law case if it goes beyond the first hearing.

[Jim Michael]

Reading that response, they could go after a kid flying a rubber band powered balsa wood airplane in a park because it might put someone's eye out.

[Dave Blackhurst]

Give 'em time... can't have any "unregulated" risk out there...

[Alex Anderson]

deleted by me.