The Real Truth - FAA Fines and FPV/Drone Flights.

RCGroups user Jason Koebler has penned another story for Motherboard.com that goes deeper into the FAA/FPV/Drone debacle. The real trick here is to figure out what is real. It's hard to know what is suggested vs. what is law. Then there is the whole question about what appears to be overreach of the FAA and our RC models. It's enough to make the mind wobble!

I wanted to highlight some main points from Jason's most recent article about who has really been fined by the FAA and for how much. I think you will find it interesting!

Jason's Story

Lots of people have been fined for flying drones when they pose a threat to those on the ground or aircraft in the sky, but the punishments levied by the US government against people who fly drones appear to be mostly arbitrary. They range from $400 and $5,500 (with one outlier at $1.9 million). The cases are almost entirely concentrated on the East Coast, and the specific wording and regulations the Federal Aviation Administration cites are inconsistent.

In October, FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker told Congress that the FAA had issued 20 civil penalties to FPV pilots/drone operators. I filed a FOIA request for documents related to those penalties and any other penalties enforced by the agency during the time the request was being processed.

Inconsistent language

The standard violations the FAA cites are the ones that prohibit people from operating an aircraft “in a careless or reckless manner,” or in certain types of airspace. But in other instances the FAA has fined people for flying a drone without “an operable coded radar beacon transponder,” and “automatic altitude reporting equipment.” These are instruments almost no FPV/drone pilot has, and the regulations being used are for manned aircraft.

The FAA May Not Know

The official I worked with wrote in a response to my request that these were all of the fines the agency has issued, but spokespeople for the FAA headquarters weren’t able to confirm that was the case. It’s entirely possible that even the FAA has no idea how many fines it has issued. These documents are, however, the most complete list of fines ever released.

A List of the Fines

Austin, Texas, August 30, 2014, Shawn Phillip Wyse; $1,100 Wyse flew a Phantom II above Texas Memorial Stadium at University of Texas at Austin during a University of Texas football game. He was fined $1,100 but settled for $800.

Wyse flew a Phantom II above Texas Memorial Stadium at University of Texas at Austin during a University of Texas football game. He was fined $1,100 but settled for $800. Tuscaloosa, Alabama, November 14, 2015, Gregory Taylor; $1,100 Taylor flew a Phantom 2 above the Bryant Denny Football Stadium before a University of Alabama v Mississippi State University football game. The drone “descended into a parking lot and struck a pedestrian just before it fell to the ground.” Taylor turned himself in. Taylor was fined $1,100 but it was reduced to $900.

Taylor flew a Phantom 2 above the Bryant Denny Football Stadium before a University of Alabama v Mississippi State University football game. The drone “descended into a parking lot and struck a pedestrian just before it fell to the ground.” Taylor turned himself in. Taylor was fined $1,100 but it was reduced to $900. Queens, New York, May 25, 2014, Clinton Bascom; $1,100 Bascom flew his Phantom in Flushing Meadow Park and above CitiField Stadium, where the Mets play. He was fined $1,100 but it was later reduced to $550.

Bascom flew his Phantom in Flushing Meadow Park and above CitiField Stadium, where the Mets play. He was fined $1,100 but it was later reduced to $550. San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 18, 2015, Marcos Plaja-Ferreira and Alberto Haber-Flores; $1,100 each Plaja-Ferreira’s drone collided midair with Alberto Haber-Flores’s drone above the ocean outside the Caribe Hilton Hotel. Both men were fined because of “damage to the hotel property,” even though the drones crashed into the ocean.

Plaja-Ferreira’s drone collided midair with Alberto Haber-Flores’s drone above the ocean outside the Caribe Hilton Hotel. Both men were fined because of “damage to the hotel property,” even though the drones crashed into the ocean. US Coast Guard Housing Complex Rio Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Jorge Lubo, July 5, 2015; $1,100 Lubo apparently flew his Parrot Bebop drone in the housing complex two separate times and was warned by the FAA about flying his drone there. On July 5, he flew the drone again and crashed it into a US Coast Guard vehicle.

Lubo apparently flew his Parrot Bebop drone in the housing complex two separate times and was warned by the FAA about flying his drone there. On July 5, he flew the drone again and crashed it into a US Coast Guard vehicle. Fairfield Avenue and Fort George Hill (Bronx), Wilkens Mendoza, July 7, 2014; $1,100 Mendoza was arrested by the NYPD along with Remy Castro for flying a drone near the George Washington Bridge. Interestingly, the FAA enforcement action against Mendoza doesn’t mention the George Washington Bridge flight and instead focuses on his flights in the Bronx. The FAA later sent Mendoza a letter withdrawing the fine.

Mendoza was arrested by the NYPD along with Remy Castro for flying a drone near the George Washington Bridge. Interestingly, the FAA enforcement action against Mendoza doesn’t mention the George Washington Bridge flight and instead focuses on his flights in the Bronx. The FAA later sent Mendoza a letter withdrawing the fine. Capitol Building, Albany, New York, Adam Rupeka, September 17, 2015; $1,100 Rupeka crashed his drone onto the New York capitol building. He had a history of run-ins with the police which are worth reading about.

Rupeka crashed his drone onto the New York capitol building. He had a history of run-ins with the police which are worth reading about. Portside Apartments, East Boston, Jose Paderes, August 30, 2015; $1,100 The FAA says Paderes flew his DJI Inspire One too close to Logan International Airport. The investigation doesn’t mention any incident or crash.

The FAA says Paderes flew his DJI Inspire One too close to Logan International Airport. The investigation doesn’t mention any incident or crash. Manhattan, New York, July 7, 2014, Remy Castro; $1,600 Castro flew his Phantom II near the George Washington Bridge in New York City. A police helicopter chased after it. The FAA said the helicopter “was required to perform evasive maneuvers in order to avoid a collision with the aircraft,” but air traffic control records found that the NYPD lied about what happened. He was fined $1,600 but it was later reduced to $800.

Castro flew his Phantom II near the George Washington Bridge in New York City. A police helicopter chased after it. The FAA said the helicopter “was required to perform evasive maneuvers in order to avoid a collision with the aircraft,” but air traffic control records found that the NYPD lied about what happened. He was fined $1,600 but it was later reduced to $800. Arlington, Texas, June 8, 2014, Robert Eddelman; $2,200 Eddelman landed his DJI Phantom II on the roof of AT&T Stadium (where the Cowboys play). He landed it on the roof, and then tried to recover it with a second drone, which he also flew above the Texas Rangers stadium while there were spectators present. He was fined $2,200 but settled for $1,000.

Eddelman landed his DJI Phantom II on the roof of AT&T Stadium (where the Cowboys play). He landed it on the roof, and then tried to recover it with a second drone, which he also flew above the Texas Rangers stadium while there were spectators present. He was fined $2,200 but settled for $1,000. 290 Central Avenue, Brooklyn, Isaac Rosa, September 17, 2014; $2,200 Rosa flew near an NYPD helicopter, the FAA says he was within 50 feet of the helicopter at 750 feet. The NYPD was using the helicopter to look for a missing person and had to perform an evasive maneuver. He was fined $2,200 but the case was settled for $1,555.

Rosa flew near an NYPD helicopter, the FAA says he was within 50 feet of the helicopter at 750 feet. The NYPD was using the helicopter to look for a missing person and had to perform an evasive maneuver. He was fined $2,200 but the case was settled for $1,555. 38th Street between 3rd Avenue and Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, David Zablidowski, September 30, 2013; $2,200 Zablidowski flew his DJI Phantom into several buildings on 40th and 41st street, eventually landing on the ground 20 feet from a person. His case was settled for $400. Zablidowski was the first hobbyist ever fined for flying a drone.

Zablidowski flew his DJI Phantom into several buildings on 40th and 41st street, eventually landing on the ground 20 feet from a person. His case was settled for $400. Zablidowski was the first hobbyist ever fined for flying a drone. Citi Field, Henry Wolters, May 6, 2015; $2,200 Wolters flew a drone above Citi Field during a Mets game where approximately 12,000 people were in attendance.

Wolters flew a drone above Citi Field during a Mets game where approximately 12,000 people were in attendance. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Queens, Daniel Verley, September 3, 2015; $2,200 Verley flew his drone above the US Open, where about 200 people were watching. The drone crashed 70 feet from the tennis court. The FAA settled for $1,320.

Verley flew his drone above the US Open, where about 200 people were watching. The drone crashed 70 feet from the tennis court. The FAA settled for $1,320. Washington DC, (Polo Fields in West Potomac Park), Damian Dizard, March 25, 2015; $3,300 Dizard flew within the Washington DC Flight Restricted Zone, encompasses a 30-mile radius surrounding DC and makes flying all drones illegal without special permission. This is one of the few cases in which nothing bad seemed to happen—no crash was reported. He was fined $3,300 but later had it reduced to $1,100.

Dizard flew within the Washington DC Flight Restricted Zone, encompasses a 30-mile radius surrounding DC and makes flying all drones illegal without special permission. This is one of the few cases in which nothing bad seemed to happen—no crash was reported. He was fined $3,300 but later had it reduced to $1,100. West Potomac Park, Washington DC, Monica Singleton, March 25, 2015; $3,300 Singleton appears to have been flying with Damian Dizard.

Singleton appears to have been flying with Damian Dizard. Lafayette Park, Washington DC, Ryan MacDonald, May 14, 2015; $4,400 MacDonald flew in Lafayette Park, which is near the White House. The FAA says that the secret service “cleared the entire north side of the White House of people … due to your operation of the aircraft.” MacDonald appears to have paid his $4,400 fine.

MacDonald flew in Lafayette Park, which is near the White House. The FAA says that the secret service “cleared the entire north side of the White House of people … due to your operation of the aircraft.” MacDonald appears to have paid his $4,400 fine. Washington DC, (G Street and 10th St NW) Shawn Usman, January 26 2015; $5,500 Usman notoriously crashed his drone into a tree on the White House lawn, causing a national conversation on drone safety and White House security. It was later reported that Usman was a government employee at the time and was also allegedly drunk during his flight. The FAA fined him $5,500.

Usman notoriously crashed his drone into a tree on the White House lawn, causing a national conversation on drone safety and White House security. It was later reported that Usman was a government employee at the time and was also allegedly drunk during his flight. The FAA fined him $5,500. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Raphael Pirker, April 13, 2012; $10,000 This was the first drone fine case in the United States and was the subject of a long, ongoing court battle. Pirker eventually settled for $1,100.

This was the first drone fine case in the United States and was the subject of a long, ongoing court battle. Pirker eventually settled for $1,100. 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx NY, Xizmo Media Productions, May 16, 2015; $18,700 Xizmo was hired by Fordham University to shoot footage of its 2015 commencement ceremony. The FAA says that because Xizmo’s drone wasn’t registered, flew in a reckless manner, and also pulled out several other regulations that are normally used for manned aircraft. Xizmo eventually settled with the FAA for $5,000 and is paying $222.22 to the FAA every month through June 2017.

Xizmo was hired by Fordham University to shoot footage of its 2015 commencement ceremony. The FAA says that because Xizmo’s drone wasn’t registered, flew in a reckless manner, and also pulled out several other regulations that are normally used for manned aircraft. Xizmo eventually settled with the FAA for $5,000 and is paying $222.22 to the FAA every month through June 2017. All over Manhattan, SkyPan; $1.9 Million This is the largest drone fine ever levied. According to the FAA, SkyPan repeatedly flew near high rises in restricted airspace. Read more about the fine and the investigation that led to it here. This case is ongoing.

This is the largest drone fine ever levied. According to the FAA, SkyPan repeatedly flew near high rises in restricted airspace. Read more about the fine and the investigation that led to it here. This case is ongoing. Coney Island Boardwalk, David Quinones, July 4, 2015; Surrendered Pilot’s license Quinones was hired by a company called Skycam to fly a drone over the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Quinones, a commercial pilot of manned aircraft, had his pilot’s license suspended for 90 days and was required to surrender his pilot’s certificate during the suspension. The FAA said it would fine him $1,100 per day that he refused to surrender it.

Locations of Fines in the USA

There is an interactive world map showing people that have been fined by the FAA, fine amounts and more. Go here to look at that.

Read the Full Story

Go here to read Jason's full story on this topic. There is even more in depth information.