On April 16, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a new initiative intended to accelerate enforcement actions involving certain drone violations. The program, titled the Drone Expedited and Targeted Enforcement Response (DETER) program, was introduced in a brief press release on the FAA’s website, as well as a statement from William McKenna, the FAA’s Chief Counsel, which was released on the Federal Register.
According to the FAA, the program addresses minor/first-time violations through a faster administrative process whereby operators may be offered reduced penalties in exchange for admitting liability and waiving appeal rights. The FAA also stated that law enforcement partners will be able to notify the agency of drone violations in real time; however, no further details have been provided on if new procedures or communication portals are being established to facilitate this.
At this time, no reporting system has been identified as part of the announcement, and the FAA has indicated that the program will be used only in select locations and during certain time periods. Additional details may become available as the program develops, but information indicates that the program may primarily guide referral actions on complaints submitted by local authorities, while the FAA’s review of larger infractions and existing airspace procedures should remain unchanged.
AMA is reviewing the announcement and related policy documents to better understand any potential impact on recreational model aviation operations. Members should continue following all applicable AMA safety guidance, FAA regulations, and airspace restrictions; if any operations are called into question under this program, please contact amagov@modelaircraft.org with details to discuss.
To remain current with the most recent government-related news, regularly visit the AMA Government Affairs blog. If you have any further questions or concerns, contact the Government Affairs department at (765) 287-1256 or amagov@modelaircraft.org.