> WTF is someone doing flying a drone at 5000 feet over downtown LA in the LAX approach path? That drone operator needs to be found and arrested.
Los Angeles has already effectively criminalized flying drones in most of the city. In October 2015 the city passed an ordinance that requires drone pilots to get "express authorization" from all airports within 5 miles[1]. This was done despite the fact that it is stricter than the FAA's requirement/advice for drone pilots to "notify" all airports within 5 miles[2] (Two months later, in December 2015, the FAA published a fact sheet trying to discourage local drone regulations that could result in a patchwork of confusing laws around the country[3].)
In January 2016, LA charged two drone pilots under the new ordinance for flying drones within 5 miles of _heliports_[4], indicating that they considered heliports to be equivalent to airports. The pilots are facing misdemeanor charges that could result in a fine and up to 6 months in jail.
The thing about heliports in LA is that they're everywhere! Probably 80-90% of LA is within 5 miles of a heliport. And not just one--if you wanted to fly your drone in the field next to the Silver Lake Reservoir, you'd probably have to get authorization from 7 or 8 heliports. It is, effectively, a ban.
The FAA will sometimes let you fly a drone in controlled airspace if you get a transponder (yes, there are tiny ones for drones) and ask for a clearance. Now you're in the airspace system, visible to everybody else, and in contact with air traffic control. That's the right way to do it if you're making a movie, reporting news, or just getting pictures of real estate.
Los Angeles has already effectively criminalized flying drones in most of the city. In October 2015 the city passed an ordinance that requires drone pilots to get "express authorization" from all airports within 5 miles[1]. This was done despite the fact that it is stricter than the FAA's requirement/advice for drone pilots to "notify" all airports within 5 miles[2] (Two months later, in December 2015, the FAA published a fact sheet trying to discourage local drone regulations that could result in a patchwork of confusing laws around the country[3].)
In January 2016, LA charged two drone pilots under the new ordinance for flying drones within 5 miles of _heliports_[4], indicating that they considered heliports to be equivalent to airports. The pilots are facing misdemeanor charges that could result in a fine and up to 6 months in jail.
The thing about heliports in LA is that they're everywhere! Probably 80-90% of LA is within 5 miles of a heliport. And not just one--if you wanted to fly your drone in the field next to the Silver Lake Reservoir, you'd probably have to get authorization from 7 or 8 heliports. It is, effectively, a ban.
[1] https://t.co/lst2RzoY5q
[2] http://fromwhereidrone.com/can-you-fly-your-drone-within-5-m...
[3] http://www.faa.gov/uas/regulations_policies/media/UAS_Fact_S...
[4] http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-city-attorney-dr...