Attorney Peter Sachs (www.dronelawjournal.com) has started a fundraising campaign for legal funds to challenge the FAA's interpretive rules for commercial use of UAVs. Peter has already collected a couple thousand dollars on his website (http://dronepilotsassociation.com/), but we need more momentum to get this going. As such, an Indiegogo campaign was started today to help this get more visibility and, hopefully, more traction.
The Indiegogo campaign is here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/operation-drone-freedom-liberate-our-skies
As many of you know, the current FAA interpretive ruling effectively blocks ANY commercial use of UAVs, and a very good portion of us have a financial interest in making sure this doesn't happen.
We only have until August 25 to legally challenge the interpretation, so time is of the essence. From Peter's site:
Time is running out to legally challenge the FAA's June 25, 2014 Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft. If not successfully challenged before August 25, 2014, drone pilots will be barred from operating commercially, barred from flying in "first person view," barred from operating within 5 miles of any airport without prior permission and will suddenly be subject to all Federal Aviation Regulations.
Disclaimer: I have no personal stake in this, just one of the many concerned people with a lot to lose under a commercial ban. Peter also has stated that he WILL NOT be the lawyer to represent the donors, rather will hire counsel to do so. Peter has answered most of the common questions here: http://dronepilotsassociation.com/donate-to-legal-fund/
Would really like to see this succeed, and I hope all the others affected by this will contribute as well. I would encourage everyone affected to spread this through your social channels, and maybe use the #dronefreedom tag to get this going.
Comments
@Shawn
Most posts are basically the whinge, nothing new is really learnt.
@UAVStuff
That is simply untrue.
On the hardware and manufacturing side, practically everything comes from China by such a margin one could almost say 99% and be reasonably accurate. Pixhawk came from Switzerland.
In terms of software, America is a minor player. The APM family of projects has more contributions from Australians than the rest of the world. DJI is chinese, Naze from Japan and so on.
America contributes hardly anything to the world of drones that you and me exist in. The only place they are leaders are in military drones, and to be honest, i couldnt care less in their businesses of death and violence.
Given the American governments eagerness to cut off exports, why would a non American care even if there was something exciting for the hobby market if your own government wont let your businesses send it over ?
You are overrating American importance which is precisely the point. Most of the world ignores America and its stupid laws, like guns etc.
@Dan
I come here to learn about new cool stuff happening in the hobby that i can personally use. One story here and there about the FAA is fine, but when half the stories on the main page every day are about the FAA its over the top. Its down right boring.
uavcan
Lohan
Air traffic in MP
Pixhawk based VTOL
Cuttng the red tape(FAA)
Drone with wifi
Tourist crash in yellowstone (America)
#dronefreedom(FAA)
drone seized by la police(America)
zero pids
4 out of 10.
If you want to talk about the FAA make a start a new forum for that. There are many other places with FAA like problems and they create local forums.
The cool stuff is getting lost from the main page with these local stories. The story about zero pids will eventually disappear because of another boring FAA story and thats a shame.
@mP1 I understand where you are coming from, but Americans face a real problem right now that is about to get much worse if nothing is done. I am quite certain blog entries about issues faced in other regions would be approved as well if you were so inclined to write about them.
@mP1 - I think it's a bit unrealistic to assume that the rest of the world is completely isolated from the effects of the FAA's decisions. An open drone industry in the US would be a strong contributor to UAV research and development worldwide, with positive effects for every UAV operator.
Can we please stop the FAA announcements and rants. I appreciate Americans, are unhappy but as a non American, it would be nice if they thought and mentioned the other places that have similar problems with their respective authorities. Theres an entire world outside America.
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