Let me begin by saying my views on this subject are my own and doing what I suggest could result in prosecution. The risk however is very low… Being an avid photographer for most of my life, the amazing drone technology has become an exciting addiction.   Ive been flying them for over four years now getting images I could only dream about before.   Placing great musical soundtracks on my videos has been pure joy.   I fly really safe having never once damaged property or caused injury. I follow sound advice like staying away from other aircraft, flying well below 400 feet (flying higher does not aid in capturing great images).  I fly sober and watchful and accordingly I have never needed crash repairs. I won’t ever ask permission to flyover or photograph private property.  That’s constitutionally protected activity that fixed wing and helicopters have enjoyed for years and there is plenty of settled appellate law that guides me.   As for th...

Los Angeles, CA —I just spent a long time on the telephone with an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector.   I’m not going to name him.   He was knowledgeable and helpful under the circumstances.   My question involved the use of a somewhat small multi-rotor drone for photography and videography.    Specifically, I wanted an exemption certificate for the use of a drone to obtain aerial images of accident, crime scenes, aerial damage surveys of structures for insurance adjusting and electronic newsgathering (ENG). Just last Sunday the FAA issued a draft copy of their intended drone regulations.   After a public comment period as much as three years will pass before a final regulation is published.   The rub here is that the drone technology is changing at lighting speed and whatever they promulgate will already be outdated and stale by the time any rule is adopted. The inspector I spoke with was an obviously bright fellow.     He among othe...

Los Angeles, CA —As Crimefile News prepares to cover the first ever Drone Expo here on Saturday, we are watching as more corporate and business refugees are fleeing this once great nation.   Americans are also renouncing their citizenship now, more than ever before. Currently drone hobbyists have no licensing or training requirements to fly their drones.   T he only FAA restrictions currently are in the form of somewhat vague “guidelines”.   They suggest maximum altitudes of 400 feet, staying three miles or more from airports and keeping visual contact with the drone. Frankly the hobbyists have already proven that civilian drones really pose no threat to Americans, their safety or privacy.   The only hard and fast enforceable civilian drone regulation is that they can’t be used to earn or generate money.   Of course the government can’t realize any income tax revenue from drone operators either.   Civilian multi-rotor drones cur...

The FAA is trying to regulate little camera drones like mine out of existence.   They have already been shot down for their over-reaching by a federal judge and the FAA has since appealed to a higher court. Now the FAA is back at it, making a new rule and it’s really no better than what was struck down in court. They apparently want to prohibit professional photographers and journalists from capturing aerial images.   The law requires government rules to be subjected to public a comment period that will run out later this month.   The rules carry heavy civil penalties but are not laws per say.    They are of course always subject to court challenge.   My published Comment:      “The FAA wants jurisdiction over a rock thrown into the sky. Criminals can use all sorts of implements to endanger our aircraft and public safety. This is a local police responsibility already. Speaking as a small, multi-rotor and unmanned Phantom 2 came...

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...

Los Angeles, CA —When the topics of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones are brought up so are the issues of fear, loathing and regulation.  Ignorance of the unknown is always a source of difficulty.  However take a look at the issues with an open mind.  Aerial photography is not new, but until now it was just expensive.  We’ve co-existed with fixed wing airplanes and helicopters, all of our lives.  It’s settled law that we have no reasonable expiation of privacy outside of our homes and the other shelters we inhabit. For nearly two decades we’ve been under observation from high-resolution cameras mounted on satellites.  We’ve all seen those incredible Google Earth views .  All of those privacy issues have been addressed and settled in the courts redundantly. Suddenly we have great diminutive cameras and UAV’s to take them to the skies.  The privacy laws remain exactly the same. There are huge advantages for these new UAV’s such a...