The FAA has issued new restrictions on flying drones around certain US landmarks. See the full statement below. [Read more…]
Federal Appellate Court Strikes Down Drone Registration Law
In 2015, the FAA passed a Registration Rule that required drone pilots to register their drones with the FAA, which included drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds. Unfortunately for the FAA, they didn’t count on drone enthusiast and fellow attorney John A. Taylor. [Read more…]
FAA Declares Super Bowl 50 a “No Drone Zone”
The FAA has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) that prohibits drone operation within a 32-mile radius of the stadium in Santa Clara, California. The TFR takes effect at 2PM and lasts until 11:59PM Sunday, February 7. [Read more…]
The Papal Visit is a NO DRONE ZONE
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B130Win2jjs&w=700&showinfo=0&rel=0]
The FAA has issued a prohibition on flying any drones during the Papal Visit from September 22-27 in Washington, D.C., New York and Philadelphia. [Read more…]
FAA Officially Proposes New Drone Regulations
Last week, the FAA published its proposal for new drone regulations that would cover commercial use of drones for photographers, cinematographers and other commercial uses.
The basics of the proposed regulations points to a handful of key restrictions noted below. [Read more…]
FAA Tells Police How to Handle Illegal Drone Encounters
While the drone market continues to expand, the legality of operating them continues to be more up in the air than ever before. Earlier this month, the FAA released a new directive to local law enforcement agencies on how to handle encounters with drone operators.
While I am a lawyer, I am not your lawyer and this is an editorial commentary on newsworthy issues rather than legal advice. Unless you’re paying a lawyer, you aren’t really getting legal advice, and what you are getting on websites, blogs and forums is worth just what you paid for it. If you are busted by the FAA for violating its regulations, get an aviation lawyer who knows their way around the administrative process. Do not solicit legal advice online. That free advice will be the most expensive you ever take. [Read more…]
FAA Grants Exemptions for 6 Companies to Fly Drones on Film Sets
The FAA announced that it has issued exemptions for 6 aerial photo and video production companies to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) (aka drones) for commercial use.
The FAA’s authority to regulate the hobby-sized drones was called into question when a judge for the National Transportation Safety Board threw out a $10,000 fine the FAA levied against a commercial filmmaker in Virginia earlier this year.
To date, the FAA has not updated the regulations wherein it is attempting to enforce a ban on hobby-sized drones (e.g., the DJI Phantom) as an “unmanned aircraft system” (the legal term used in the regulations. Yet, the FAA is still exempting certain companies from its (currently unenforceable) regulations. [Read more…]
FAA Finally Allows Passengers to Use Portable Electronic Devices During Takeoff and Landing
The FAA has officially made it ok for passengers to use portable electronic devices, such as iPads, Kindles, iPhones (in airplane mode) and cameras, during all phases of flight. We’ve known for a long time that these devices are safe to use while the airplane is in operation, including takeoff and landing, but the FAA took plenty of time to make it officially ok. [Read more…]