Judge Patrick Geraghty of the National Transportation Safety Board from the FAA yesterday relating to commercial drone use. Raphael Pirker was fined in 2011 for reckless flying near Charlottesville, Virginia, while he was shooting a promotional video. The judge’s ruling directly undermines FAA regulations on commercial UAVs and may be a catalyst for the agency to change its drone policies.
The FAA has been battling with the rise of UAVs and a way to regulate them for several years. In its most recent 2014 update, that anyone flying any sort of craft in U.S. airspace must have “some level of FAA approval.” However, the FAA鈥檚 current framework hasn鈥檛 stopped anyone. UAVs are being used to shoot Hollywood films, real estate, agriculture, and just about everything else.
In his decision, the judge stated that 鈥渢here was no enforceable FAA rule鈥 to support the agency鈥檚 fine. The agency is reportedly reviewing the decision and maintains the option to appeal.
The FAA has yet to issue any permits for commercial drone use outside of the Arctic, but it did approve six late last year.
Eric Hansen piloted his DJI Phantom across the country for 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥檚 March issue.