Warning from the LAPD--do not use UAVs commercially!
Please see this warning from the Los Angeles Police Department, sent to the California Association of Realtors. Discussion on helifreak here. More background and discussion here. I'll be talking to the NYT about this tomorrow.
Short form: Amateur UAV use within the usual FAA guidelines (under 400ft, within visual line-of-sight, away from built-up-areas) is allowed, as always. But commercial use requires a COA, which you're not going to get. So there's nothing new here, but it's a reminder that the guidelines will be enforced.
LAPD Warning Against Hiring Unmanned Aircraft Operators for Aerial Photos
Los Angeles authorities have asked C.A.R. to communicate this warning to REALTORS® who hire unmanned aircraft operators to take aerial photographs for marketing high-end properties. Using these devices (also known as drones) for flight in the air with no onboard pilot may violate, among other things, the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) policy on unmanned aircrafts, and Los Angeles's local ordinance requiring permits for filming commercial motion pictures and still photographs.
The Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) investigation has apparently revealed that aerial photos where unmanned aircraft were observed have appeared on certain real estate sales websites. According to FilmL.A., the LAPD Air Division has issued this warning as it intends to prosecute violators in the near future. FilmL.A. is a public benefit company created by the City and County of Los Angeles to manage film permit activity and related issues.
Under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s current policy, no one can operate an unmanned aircraft in the National Airspace System without specific authority. Operators who wish to fly an unmanned aircraft for civil use must obtain an FAA experimental airworthiness certificate, which will not be issued to an unmanned aircraft used for compensation or hire. Although the FAA allows hobbyists to fly model airplanes for recreational purposes under specific guidelines, that authority does not extend to operators flying unmanned aircraft for business purposes. More information is available from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Notice on Unmanned Aircraft Operations and the FAA's policy.
Comments are closed for this blog post
-
Comment by Brad Smith on February 1, 2012 at 6:39am -
Hey Brad you can vote for Ron Paul and go to https://www.popvox.com/bills#issue=174 and tell your congressman how you feel on these issue,s and ask your friends and family to too. Wake up the sheeple.have you heard of NDAA indefinite detention no trial,no charges , no lawyer and FEMA camps there real there already putting people in them. you know what the different s is in NC and CAL the good people around here have guns and know how to use them . when the people fear the government that,s a dictatorship ,the government should fear the people ! FREEDOM is,nt free ! sorry about the rant but it kills me to see my country destroyed ...
-
Comment by BRAD BARNSON on February 1, 2012 at 8:34am -
I am not completely against regulations and fees There are reasonable fees for a business license thats ok you register a boat or car …. thats ok .. but i am afraid with out input from UAV users the regs and fees will be used to protect and even the playing field to the point that UAV commercial use will not be able to compete with piloted aircraft. And for so many uses GIS, Land engineering etc., a UAV is the future for safe cost effective projects…
-
Comment by John Johnson on February 1, 2012 at 3:47pm -
They are not regulating your technology. They are regulating our airspace.
They don't care that they don't know your technology. They care that you don't know about everything there is to know about their airspace.
-
Comment by John Campen on February 1, 2012 at 3:57pm -
So glad I live in the wild wild east!
-
Comment by Lebdog on February 1, 2012 at 11:34pm -
Well here's a little more clarification from AvWeb Aviation News:
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAA_Cracking_Down_UAS_206105-1...
-
Moderator Comment by Gary Mortimer on February 2, 2012 at 1:19am -
Deep sigh, if you were really worried about it you would help the chaps at RCAPA, yes there are lots of members here but DIYD was not at the table at the first round of talks, nor the secret second round. It will take a unified effort with letters going to the right places to get heard. RCAPA having been at the first round already has a foot in the door. Its free, what more could you want!
Rather than selling pictures, why not write a manual and setup a training centre. That's where the money is going to be.
Do nothing and you will end up with regulations that you don't like. Plenty of people have got into trouble. But yes 9 times out of 10 who will ever know.
Once the laws are clearly defined every insurance company will know exactly how to get out of paying for Mrs Miggins greenhouse repair.
She will then come for you.
Those that do comply and attain licences when it all settles down will be only too happy to report you to authorities armed with legislation to prosecute you.
If this is all news to you, then you did not do enough research before deciding to go into business.
-
Comment by Denny Rowland on February 2, 2012 at 2:55am -
Gary This all this sounds logical. For those who are not aware of RCAPA can you tell us a little more about how we can make a contribution to this effort.
-
Comment by BRAD BARNSON on February 2, 2012 at 3:48am
-
i wonder what constitutes commercial use … If some one calls me and I show up for free shoot the pic's desired for free leave the site and go home …. then they pick out the photos they want and I give them to them for free ….. but I charge them 8,000.00 for the thumb drive the pictures are on……
-
Comment by M.A.N. on February 2, 2012 at 7:15am -
Really? adopt the business model of and "escort service"? The $8,000 is for the girl showing up for 4 hours not what happen during that time. Ha ha are you a pimp? Good one.
-
Comment by M.A.N. on February 2, 2012 at 7:18am
-
Hold on a sec... No!, you are the girl! Ha ha not the pimp because you are providing the "services" ha ha
Social Networking
Top Content
Contests
Season Two of the Trust Time Trial (T3) Contest has now begun. The fourth round is an accuracy round for multicopters, which requires contestants to fly a cube. The deadline is April 14th.A list of all T3 contests is here.
Groups
-
ArduCopter User Group
1299 members
-
Documentation Editors
51 members
-
Telemetry over cellular …
249 members
-
Moderators
24 members
-
DroneShare Users Group
12 members
Advertisement
© 2013 Created by Chris Anderson.
Powered by
