FAA Proposes Record $1.9m Fine Against Drone Operator For ‘Unauthorized’ Flights
Drones. FAA Proposes Record $1.9m Fine Against Drone Operator For ‘Unauthorized’ Flights
So this is what happens if you push the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) too far on the issue of commercial drone flights.
The agency on Tuesday proposed a colossal $1.9 million fine for Chicago-based drone operator SkyPan for allegedly “endangering the safety of our airspace” during unauthorized flights over New York City and Chicago. The figure is thought to be a record for a civil penalty against a drone operator.
SkyPan has 27 years of experience in the aerial photography business and offers clients “bird’s-eye views” using a range of platforms, drones among them.
The FAA claims SkyPan’s 65 offending flights took place between March 2012 and December 2014 “in some of our most congested airspace and heavily populated cities, violating airspace regulations and various operating rules,” adding, “These operations were illegal and not without risk.”
Forty-three of the alleged incursions took place in the highly restricted New York Class B airspace – usually areas close to busy airports – without receiving clearance to access it, the FAA said. In addition, the agency says SkyPan’s flying machines were operating without the using the necessary equipment, such as a two-way radio, transponder, and altitude-reporting device.
Commenting on the case in a release, the FAA’s Michael Huerta said, “Flying unmanned aircraft in violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations is illegal and can be dangerous,” adding, “We have the safest airspace in the world, and everyone who uses it must understand and observe our comprehensive set of rules and regulations.”
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