Los Angeles, CA —Yes! As most of my visitors know I’m pumped up and over the top about camera drones as a photographer and filmmaker.   I already own two of them.   My current flagship is the DJI Phantom 2 , which uses a GoPro camera . Today, worldwide there are more than a million multi-rotor camera drones in civilian hands.   They well outnumber conventional helicopters.   They have a perfect safety record of no reported deaths or remarkable injuries.   To date there are still no known collisions between a camera drone and any conventional aircraft.   Like all of the DJI drones the new Inspire 1 model they unveiled yesterday is relatively easy to fly.   If you have or acquire photography and video editing skills you have the time of your life capturing images.   I find flying these multi-rotor copters incredibly exciting, addicting and empowering! Now there is a new must have camera drone in the skies as I speak.   It’s the DJI ...

The FAA has arbitrarily ruled that “commercial” use of drones or unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV’s) is prohibited.  The use of these amazing devices by hobbyists of course is perfectly legal until a UAV pilot earns a single dime.  Then the FAA will investigate and fine the offending party $10,000.00.  Of course the accused pilot has a right to a court hearing on the matter and evidence must be presented.  The pilot can then properly challenge whatever evidence the FAA offers up. So far the FAA’s only known case against a UAV photographer/pilot ever to see a courtroom failed.  On or about October 17, 2011 Raphael Pirker of Zurich, Switzerland was commercially operating his UAV over the University of Virginia . He was paid to gather video by a communications company. Pirker was also accused of flying the UAV at extremely low altitudes.  The FAA claimed he operated his drone recklessly.  Accordingly the FAA issued a civil penalty of $10,000....

Phoenix, AZ —Today numerous news organizations have filed a legal brief in the matter of the FAA vs. Pirker .  Pirker was fined for making a video for the University of Virginia using a small camera drone.  A federal judge in Denver struck down the FAA’s ban and now the matter is under appeal.  There may be a risk to commercial drone use should the FAA win their appeal. The news organizations are properly claiming a 1st Amendment right to use the drones for news gathering purposes.   The FAA banned all commercial use of drones by civilians.   They did not however attempt to ban drones being used by hobbyists.    The FAA says they will issue regulations for the drones later this year. The Drone Genie is long out of the bottle and now these are must have toys for every teen aged boy in America.   The drones are invisible on radar and the FAA can’t possibly begin to police every drone in America. I will concede that the FAA owns th...

Mayflower, AK— April 27, 2014, tragedy struck the heartland in the form of springtime tornados.  It was not really safe to send up a helicopter and crew to survey the damage.  Emergency vehicles found roads impassable and were unable to locate victims needing assistance. One drone video journalist sent up his camera high above the scene.  The stunning video he captured was a real public service.  First responders could see areas where help was needed.  The local residents lucky enough to have escaped the wrath of the storms could see if they still had homes and the extent of damage.  During these emergencies looting becomes a concern and understandably police limit entry to these areas significantly.  Using the camera drones homeowners can see just how their precious homes survived or did not without waiting for police escorts that can take days.  The FAA tried to take jurisdiction over these little drones that use the tiny HD  Go...

Sergio Marachilian Los Angeles, CA —a close friend that is a long time pilot for American Airlines and before that TWA turned me on to this new hobby.  I have always loved photography and photographers always want to get the best view and angle.  Arial photography was nearly always out of the question because of the high costs involved.    There are other issues such as; helicopters can’t always get into tight spaces.   Helicopter crashes can be catastrophic but a mishap with the new generation quadcopters almost never causes injury or property damage.   These new drones seem to escape any significant damage should they crash into something!   Modern brushless electric motors and advanced batteries have radically changed the remote control world.   A whole new Galaxy of model planes, boats, cars helicopters and quadcopters is here.   They once were toys really; they seemed to have little value beyond frivolous entertainment. Not an...

Las Vegas, NV—The National Association of Broadcasters are meeting in Sin City for among other things learn about the rapidly changing technology that brings breathtaking images to those very spectacular TV screens in most of our homes.   These days TV news directors everywhere are faced with a financial crisis and thankfully the equipment they need has never been better or cheaper.   The largest single expense for any newsroom is that exciting helicopter assisted newsgathering.   Frankly, many medium and small market TV news organizations have had to eliminate helicopters altogether or enter into video sharing and cost splitting agreements with new competitors because they simply can no longer afford it. Helicopter safety is no small issue with too many deadly crashes and the related liability issues. Another problem is scrambling to get the helicopters quickly in the air when news breaks.   Quadcopters armed with small high definition cameras are a really...

,   Washington, DC —The Federal Aviation Authority was created for and exists for serious public safety issues.   They regulate airships and pilots in order to keep our air space safe.     That is absolutely an honorable mission. However they have overstepped their mission by banning the use of small drones for so-called commercial purposes.  Hobbyists currently can fly their drones virtually anywhere without any interference.   Flying at a lower altitude than 400 feet and staying away from other aircraft makes sense.   Nobody wants to endanger anyone or anything including his or her own drone. They will eventually formally regulate drones.   Common sense should dictate that the size and weight of these air vehicles should determine what is or is not regulated.    The FAA will never have enough inspectors to regulate every teenager with a drone in America.   I don’t think that the taxpayers could or would...