http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/10/5195864/amazon-prime-air-drone-illegal-faa-international
Amazon and the FAA have confirmed to the Washington Post that the company chose an international location to shoot its concept video for Prime Air, the drone delivery service CEO Jeff Bezos says Amazon plans to debut in the near future. That's because the commercial use of drones is currently illegal in the United States, pending new regulations set to be issued by the FAA in 2015.
The laws concerning drones are far more relaxed in neighboring countries like Canada, which is a relatively short trip from Amazon's headquarters in Seattle, Washington. And while commercial use of drones is illegal, numerous photographers and cinematographers working on projects in the United States have confirmed to The Verge that the use of drones to achieve aerial shots is common.
American advocates of commercial drone use point to situations like this as proof that the United States, which has been a leader in developing small unmanned aircraft, risks falling behind the rest of the world in terms of developing drones for business, due in large part to the lack of a complete regulatory framework.
Comments
Hey Oliver the Notam for DC includes the use of deadly force, I already notice the anti IED parking barriers on the front lawn.
What you don't see are the 3 Hellfire missiles from the government authorized Predator that are about to dig a 20 foot pit in the FAA's front lawn.
It's too bad that Amazon didn't have the balls to just go ahead and do the flying for the publicity stunt here, right in the FAA's face. Maybe even in front of the FAA building in DC ...
“If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law.”
“A unjust law, is no law at all.”
“Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.”
“When mores are sufficient, laws are unnecessary; when mores are insufficient, laws are unenforceable.”
"All we know about the new economic world tells us that nations which train engineers will prevail over those which train lawyers. No nation has ever sued its way to greatness. ”
"Law cannot reach where enforcement will not follow."
“Errors do not cease to be errors simply because they’re ratified into law.”
“Mankind needs new law to embrace new science.”
"The law is the public conscience."
"Laws or ordinances unobserved, or partially attended to, had better never have been made."
"I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law."
"Law is the embodiment of the moral sentiment of the people."
Someone needs to read these to the FAA.
"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so."
also...
"One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."
This is only FREE world wide advertising by Amazons before Christmas ...
It was illegal here as well... they just got away with it but they need a Special Flight Operation Certificate just like any other "commercial" users around Canada... I am sure if we keep asking them they will say they went to Mexico!
The article do not exactly say that they came in Canada to shoot.. they said there is place with less restrictions like Canada (where it is not illegal if you can obtain your SFOC)...
oh well the saga continue! and to jump on the publicity stunt I almost posted that CanadaDrones.com was selling their airframe... hehe could have create a fake product and see how many I could sell! hehehe
BTW I am developing an industrial frame, should be ready in about 1-2 months, and let me tell you that it will not look like their frame! hehe
Where is the USA country of freedom we used to know and love ?
Ok - Not in usa - not problem. =)
Wow, I was wondering how they got away with shooting the video in the first place! :)