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FAA Proposes $1.9 Million Civil Penalty Against SkyPan International for Allegedly Unauthorized Unmanned Aircraft Operations
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announces the largest civil penalty the FAA has proposed against a UAS operator for endangering the safety of our airspace. (www.faa.gov) More...
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Full disclosure, I own a drone, and am working towards the 333 exemption while completing private pilot licensing. However, I support this 110%, unless you have aeronautical knowledge, you have no business flying one of these, especially in congested airspace. As much as I'm against the guvmint creating a nanny state, we need regulations for this. I own a DJI Phantom 3 Pro, I'm not going to jeopardize a $1,500 piece of plastic, let alone the lives of hundreds, or thousands of people. The problem are those who can go buy one for $100, fly it, wherever because there isn't an integrated app that won't allow you to take off in no fly zones in cities and around major airports. If you want to operate it as a business, you need some skin in the game with licensing, training and such. If you don't follow the rules, BOOM, $1.9 million please.
amen brother, totally agree.
If they want to use a drone, they must at least understand airspace they operate in, and must have the same equipment as any other operator using that airspace as well.
I have seen more and more drones, often very close to ORD and PWK, over congested areas, over open assemblies of people, in firework shows, at concerts, hovering around high rise apartments probably spying on people getting dressed....
I think drones are a lot of fun, but it's gotten way out of control. On youtube people are openly posting flights climbing through clouds to "VFR on Top" hovering.... all around airports... it's just a matter of time until one of the heavier ones that has a Sony F55, Alexa, or Red Epic comes through the windscreen and kills a pilot, or turns an engine into a camera grinder.. with camera+gear well over 35 pounds with dense metal parts... yeah, something really bad is gonna happen some day, I hope not, but the "big sky" philosophy has been proven not to work
If they want to use a drone, they must at least understand airspace they operate in, and must have the same equipment as any other operator using that airspace as well.
I have seen more and more drones, often very close to ORD and PWK, over congested areas, over open assemblies of people, in firework shows, at concerts, hovering around high rise apartments probably spying on people getting dressed....
I think drones are a lot of fun, but it's gotten way out of control. On youtube people are openly posting flights climbing through clouds to "VFR on Top" hovering.... all around airports... it's just a matter of time until one of the heavier ones that has a Sony F55, Alexa, or Red Epic comes through the windscreen and kills a pilot, or turns an engine into a camera grinder.. with camera+gear well over 35 pounds with dense metal parts... yeah, something really bad is gonna happen some day, I hope not, but the "big sky" philosophy has been proven not to work
Agree with Anthony. I see no difference between this fine (which I would say was still low considering the multiple violations) and fines levied against air carriers or air taxi operators for safety and regulatory violations. I hope we see more and continued vigorous enforcement actions taken against the UAS cowboys and cowgirls who are clearly pushing the envelope. The tension between the rule of law and the attraction of MONEY could never be more evident.
There are rules and those who abuse them. Close SkyPan down!
https://youtu.be/DG2FD9Snzwo
Yeah Let's shut them down, SkyPan one of the first companies on the leading edge of a new industry.
Yeah Let's shut those Wright Brothers down, it's to dangerous for man to fly like a bird.
If man was suppose to fly like a bird, God would have given him wings.
As we can see, there were jerks then and now.!!
jerk = a contemptibly obnoxious person
The Wright Brothers broke a lot of rules, thankfully so..!!
Sorry if you can't see...the beauty of SkyPan, the beauty of the Wright Brothers.
The beauty of Nature all around YOU every breath you take.
Yeah Let's shut those Wright Brothers down, it's to dangerous for man to fly like a bird.
If man was suppose to fly like a bird, God would have given him wings.
As we can see, there were jerks then and now.!!
jerk = a contemptibly obnoxious person
The Wright Brothers broke a lot of rules, thankfully so..!!
Sorry if you can't see...the beauty of SkyPan, the beauty of the Wright Brothers.
The beauty of Nature all around YOU every breath you take.
Here's why Nature is important....
Now a days you see all commercial aircraft with winglets...now look at this photo...
http://flightaware.com/photos/view/445342-b2fbd13d4dc280581e6c79e1352051c2f5852eb1/user/davysims/sort/votes/page/1
Nature already had a handle on it.
If you want answers to really important questions, look to nature, more then likely already answered.
A perfect frame, perfect power, perfect covering, perfect wing, perfect computer, perfect flight.
It's hard to beat perfection..!!
Now a days you see all commercial aircraft with winglets...now look at this photo...
http://flightaware.com/photos/view/445342-b2fbd13d4dc280581e6c79e1352051c2f5852eb1/user/davysims/sort/votes/page/1
Nature already had a handle on it.
If you want answers to really important questions, look to nature, more then likely already answered.
A perfect frame, perfect power, perfect covering, perfect wing, perfect computer, perfect flight.
It's hard to beat perfection..!!
Electroman00, Drones can collide with other aircraft.. The Wright brothers did not have that problem. People who fly drones without regard for the regulations should be punished severely. Grow up!
I've already glorified your first response as idiotic, I'm not even going to bother with this one.
As of right now the are no rules and regulations, that's why there is 333 exemption, nothing is in stone as of now.
Skypan has 30 days to appeal, at which time they will ask for a dismissal, the FAA will walk away or make a point of something pointless and cost tax payers millions.
The FAA $1.9M was for people like you, **all show**, to prove to you they are doing something, when in fact they have dropped the Drone ball for the better part of 5 years and some will say longer.
They didn't have a senate hearing for fun and nothing.
It was to find out why the FAA after 5 years+++ can't take on more issues under the conservative sequestration.
A.K.A Lack of additional FUNDING.
What the FAA did was take GA rules,change the heading to Drones, here's an exemption and said follow these until we figure it all out.
Follow these meant big big big $$$$$ that were in most cases not applicable.
Based on that, how do you, I quote you, "punished severely"...
You don't, because you can't, at least not in a court of law.
Then FAA didn't even pick up the phone and call, anyone to solicit input, to help expedite rule making which became obvious in the hearings to anyone with a brain.
They never even spoke to the premier organization, the AMA, where by they already have setup drone training flight sites as well as thousands of members.
They never called Skypan to have a meet, an organization that could undoubtedly offer TONS of regulation input.
The mentality was to punished severely in an mass glitter effort of, don't look at us (FAA) look at them (Skypan).
And you fall for the SCAM.
Now if you'll just send me $2000 I'll send you my Bentley title.!!
Bottom line is, We call all that BULLSheet.
And the bottom line reason for it is, there are always people out there trying to cripple GOVERNMENT.
Mr Bill Osborne...
Your first 2 statements are bullpoop blather preping for the 3rd statement of bullpoop blather.
Obviously you know little about laws, regulations, exemptions and legal engine mechanics and/or procedures.
You have had two post of wonderful blather, nothing to offer...
I'm not the one that needs to Grow Up young boy.!!
Anyone that chants "Shut'em Down" without any information or knowledge is an idiot, jerk, dumbass or whatever is fitting. So if the shoe fits....
But that's how we make responsible and important decisions these days in America.
No conversations of FACT, just tons of BLOG blather statements, for post count points...
If you're not able to learn and change mental aroma, I can assure you that Mother Nature will deal with you, the same way she deals with all inflexible species, she banishes them from the earth.
You have a good day...
As of right now the are no rules and regulations, that's why there is 333 exemption, nothing is in stone as of now.
Skypan has 30 days to appeal, at which time they will ask for a dismissal, the FAA will walk away or make a point of something pointless and cost tax payers millions.
The FAA $1.9M was for people like you, **all show**, to prove to you they are doing something, when in fact they have dropped the Drone ball for the better part of 5 years and some will say longer.
They didn't have a senate hearing for fun and nothing.
It was to find out why the FAA after 5 years+++ can't take on more issues under the conservative sequestration.
A.K.A Lack of additional FUNDING.
What the FAA did was take GA rules,change the heading to Drones, here's an exemption and said follow these until we figure it all out.
Follow these meant big big big $$$$$ that were in most cases not applicable.
Based on that, how do you, I quote you, "punished severely"...
You don't, because you can't, at least not in a court of law.
Then FAA didn't even pick up the phone and call, anyone to solicit input, to help expedite rule making which became obvious in the hearings to anyone with a brain.
They never even spoke to the premier organization, the AMA, where by they already have setup drone training flight sites as well as thousands of members.
They never called Skypan to have a meet, an organization that could undoubtedly offer TONS of regulation input.
The mentality was to punished severely in an mass glitter effort of, don't look at us (FAA) look at them (Skypan).
And you fall for the SCAM.
Now if you'll just send me $2000 I'll send you my Bentley title.!!
Bottom line is, We call all that BULLSheet.
And the bottom line reason for it is, there are always people out there trying to cripple GOVERNMENT.
Mr Bill Osborne...
Your first 2 statements are bullpoop blather preping for the 3rd statement of bullpoop blather.
Obviously you know little about laws, regulations, exemptions and legal engine mechanics and/or procedures.
You have had two post of wonderful blather, nothing to offer...
I'm not the one that needs to Grow Up young boy.!!
Anyone that chants "Shut'em Down" without any information or knowledge is an idiot, jerk, dumbass or whatever is fitting. So if the shoe fits....
But that's how we make responsible and important decisions these days in America.
No conversations of FACT, just tons of BLOG blather statements, for post count points...
If you're not able to learn and change mental aroma, I can assure you that Mother Nature will deal with you, the same way she deals with all inflexible species, she banishes them from the earth.
You have a good day...
