America can pursue ‘reckless’ drone flyers, panel rules
20 Nov 2014 5:36 AM IST
US aviation authorities are allowed to pursue small drone operators suspected of operating their
radio-controlled devices in a reckless manner, a US government agency ruled on Tuesday.
The decision by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the latest chapter in an ongoing legal battle between a Swiss drone entrepreneur based in Hong Kong and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).An NTSB administrative law judge in March dismissed a $10,000 fine that the FAA had imposed on Raphael Pirker for using a Ritewing Zephyr drone to shoot a promotional video for the University of Virginia.
The FAA - which held that Pirker flew his drone in a reckless manner, in violation of federal air regulations - promptly appealed that decision to the full NTSB panel. In a brief statement on Tuesday, that NTSB panel said the ban on careless or reckless flying extended to small drones, not just conventional aircraft, and that the FAA could enforce it.The panel sent the determination of whether Pirker had flown his drone in a reckless manner back to a judge. Pirker currently runs a drone business in Hong Kong.
radio-controlled devices in a reckless manner, a US government agency ruled on Tuesday.
The decision by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is the latest chapter in an ongoing legal battle between a Swiss drone entrepreneur based in Hong Kong and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).An NTSB administrative law judge in March dismissed a $10,000 fine that the FAA had imposed on Raphael Pirker for using a Ritewing Zephyr drone to shoot a promotional video for the University of Virginia.
The FAA - which held that Pirker flew his drone in a reckless manner, in violation of federal air regulations - promptly appealed that decision to the full NTSB panel. In a brief statement on Tuesday, that NTSB panel said the ban on careless or reckless flying extended to small drones, not just conventional aircraft, and that the FAA could enforce it.The panel sent the determination of whether Pirker had flown his drone in a reckless manner back to a judge. Pirker currently runs a drone business in Hong Kong.
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