Literally:
"NTSB says government aircraft regulations apply to drones" by Joan LowyAssociated Press November 19, 2014
WASHINGTON — The government has the power to hold drone operators accountable when they operate the remote-controlled aircraft recklessly, a federal safety board ruled Tuesday in a setback for small drone operators chafing under FAA restrictions.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which hears appeals of Federal Aviation Administration enforcement actions, ruled that small drones are a type of aircraft and fall under existing FAA rules.
The FAA had fined Raphael Pirker, an aerial photographer, $10,000 for operating his Ritewing Zephyr in a reckless manner at the University of Virginia in 2011. He allegedly flew the drone at ‘‘extremely low’’ altitudes, including under a pedestrian bridge and directly at a person, causing the individual to duck. He had been hired to make photos and videos of the campus.
This bankrupt, money-grabbing, hypocritical government is looking for every penny it can find.
Pirker appealed, saying his aircraft was no different than a model aircraft and therefore not subject to regulations that apply to manned aircraft. An NTSB administrative law judge sided with him in March, saying the FAA hasn’t issued any regulations specifically for drones.
The FAA appealed to the four-member safety board, which said Tuesday that the definition of aircraft is broad.
‘‘An ‘aircraft’ is any ‘device’ ‘used for flight in the air.’ This definition includes any aircraft, manned or unmanned, large or small,’’ the board said.
A folded paper plane now qualifies.
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The decision strengthens the FAA’s position as it tries to cope with a surge in the use of unmanned aircraft, some weighing no more than a few pounds and costing as little as a few hundred dollars.
More than a million small drones have been sold worldwide in the past few years, and a growing number of them are turning up in US skies. Reports of drones near planes, helicopters, and airfields are reaching the government almost daily — a sharp increase from just two years ago, when such reports were still unusual.
‘‘It’s a huge win for the FAA, and signals it’s not going to be the Wild West for drones, but a careful, orderly, safe introduction of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system,’’ said Kenneth Quinn, a former FAA general counsel....
A wide array of industries are clamoring to use small drones. Amazon.com wants to use drones to deliver small packages, for instance. Congress directed the FAA to integrate drones of all sizes into US skies by fall 2015, but it’s clear the agency won’t meet that deadline.
Congress also directed the FAA to first issue regulations permitting widespread commercial use of small drones, usually defined as weighing less than 55 pounds. Officials have indicated they expect to propose rules before the end of the year. It may be months or years before they are finalized, however.
Related: UMass researchers to count tuna with drones
What do they do now, go underwater?
Meanwhile, the agency is poised to issue special permits to companies that have applied for exemptions to the commercial ban. More than 120 companies have applied, for things like spraying crops and inspecting smokestacks, pipelines, and power lines.
The important takeaway here is you will NEED GOVERNMENT PERMISSION no matter who you are!
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Lot of money to be made up there:
"US drone sightings up dramatically" by Joan Lowy | Associated Press November 13, 2014
WASHINGTON — More than a million small drone aircraft have been sold in the past few years, and a growing number of them are turning up in the skies near airports and airliners, posing a risk of collision.
Is that the cover story they are going to come up with when the next plane crashes?
Reports of drone sightings near other planes, helicopters, and airfields are reaching the government almost daily, federal and industry officials say.
It’s a sharp increase from just two years ago when such reports were still unusual.
I've heard and seen that drone before.
Many of the reports are filed with the Federal Aviation Administration by airline pilots.
But other pilots, airport officials, and local authorities often file reports of sightings as well, said the officials, who agreed to discuss the matter only on the condition that they not be named because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
Michael Toscano, president of a drone-industry trade group, said FAA officials also have verified the increase to him.
While many of the reports are unconfirmed, raising the possibility that pilots may have mistaken a bird or another plane in the distance for a drone, the officials said other reports appear to be credible.
The reports underscore the difficulty the FAA faces trying to control drones, which could cause a crash if one collided with a plane or was sucked into an engine. Small drones usually are not visible on radar to air traffic controllers, particularly if they are made of plastic or other composites.
The agency’s near-total ban on their use has been ignored by operators ranging from real estate agents to farmers who use them to monitor crops.
This government doesn't listen to us, and thus we do not listen to this government.
Great relationship, huh?
Rules to allow broader use of commercial drones are expected to be proposed before year’s end....
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Time to set sail for tyranny.
UPDATE: N.Y. senator says near collisions show need for drone rules
$limy $cum Schumer wants regulations!
