Texas Tourist Arrested After Crashing a Drone into the World Trade Center
A Texas tourist was arrested after he accidentally crashed a drone into 7 World Trade Center, which triggered a massive city and federal law enforcement response.
Why the FAA’s Mandatory TRUST Drone Test Won’t Provide Any Safety
As reported recently here on Petapixel, the FAA has rolled out a new testing program for recreational UAV (a.k.a., drone) users, created to “provide education and testing for recreational flyers on important safety and regulatory information.” As with many government-mandated programs, it provides neither education nor safety.
Photographer’s Harrowing Tale of Imprisonment for Flying a Drone in Cuba
In 2016, a Canadian traveler innocently flew his drone in Cuba and was unexpectedly arrested and accused of being a spy for the United States Government due to an unfortunate coincidence.
Police in the UK are Cracking Down on Irresponsible Drone Pilots
Police in the United Kingdom have been granted new powers that allow them to further crack down on pilots who are either flying illegally or irresponsibly with increased fines and the ability to confiscate drones.
Drone Pilots Can Complete Remote ID Training Online Starting April 6
After two delays, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is gearing up to launch its Remote ID training entirely online starting on April 6. The online program is designed to make it easier for Part 107-certified pilots to renew their status without needing to pay for in-person testing.
Airmap Suggests Drone Airspace Should be Monetized, Sparking Outrage
Airmap, one of the more popular services for planning legal drone flights, is facing backlash after suggesting that airspace should be monetized through taxation as well as fees associated with launching and landing drones.
Man Faces $250K Fine, Prison Time for Hitting Police Helicopter with Drone
A California man has pled guilty to the charge of hitting a police helicopter with his drone. The crime of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft carries up to one year in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
All of the EU is Now Under New, Consistent Drone Flying Rules
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has passed a new set of drone regulations that centralize and blanket the entire European Union under one set of rules that includes Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and the United Kingdom.
Alphabet Inc’s Drone Division Argues FAA’s New Rules Hurt Privacy
Right at the end of 2020, the United States Federal Aviation Administration published what it called its "final" drone rules for commercial flights. Drone delivery company Wing has since come out sharply opposed to the new rules as harmful to privacy.
FAA Slaps Drone Pilot with $182,000 in Fines for a Myriad of Violations
Originally reported early in December, a drone pilot was hit with a set of fines from the FAA for over $182,000, penalties that he could have avoided if he heeded prior FAA warnings.
FAA Publishes Final Drone Rules: Remote ID Now Required
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published final rules for Part 107 drone operations (drones used for commercial work). The rules specify the need for Remote ID and also loosen the rules around flying over people at night.
Drones Are Saving One Life Per Week, DJI Study Finds
DJI Technology Inc, the largest civilian drone maker, is claiming in a new study that “59 lives have been saved by civilian drones in 18 different incidents, with one life a week being saved by drones on average.”
DJI Says FAA’s 250g Lowest-Risk Drone Weight Limit is ‘Deeply Flawed’
Drone manufacturer DJI is speaking about about the FAA's drone rules. In a white paper released last week, DJI stated that the FAA’s present regulations about what size drones pose a risk to humans are based on, "poorly chosen data and deeply flawed assumptions."
US Working on Rules for Flying Drones Over Populated Areas
The FAA has been scrambling to come up with appropriate rules for multi-rotor camera drones since the flying machines took the world by storm a few years back. And while the first set of proposed rules were revealed a little over a year ago, it seems a US Government committee is already working on a very important update.