Federal authorities from the National Park Service recently cited two individuals for operating a UAS near and around Alcatraz Island. On June 26th the UAS operators were working on a pictorial project involving images of Alcatraz. In doing so, they were taking aerial photographs of the historic location using an electric UAS rotorcraft from a boat offshore from the island.<\/p>\n
As a result several citations were issued for violations involving creating a hazardous condition, operating within a prohibited area, operating an aircraft within 500\u2019 of a boat dock, disturbing wildlife and filming without a permit. Interestingly enough, the only mention made of enforcement action relating to the unauthorized commercial operation of UAS was the issuance of a \u201ccease-and-desist\u201d letter.<\/p>\n
FAA has contended the need and its intention to regulate ALL model aircraft in order to fulfill its responsibility to take enforcements action for acts that endanger the national airspace. We (AMA) contend that there are more than enough existing local, state and federal regulations on the books to penalize individuals for truly \u2018unsafe\u2019 acts and endangering persons or property.<\/p>\n
Rich Hanson
\nAMA Government and Regulatory Affairs<\/p>\n