FAA Sued In Federal Court Over Drone Registration Rules

droneadmin

Administrator
Staff member
In a move that may give hope to many model aircraft flyers, the validity of the FAA’s new drone registry is under challenge in federal court. The hope for these hobby flyers is that if the challenge is successful, they – including children as young as 13 – won’t have to file their names and home addresses in a public database. Many hobby flyers have held off on registering their drones, concerned about thepublic availabilityof their information.

The lawsuit challenging the FAA registry was filed in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on December 24 by a model aircraft enthusiast concerned that the registration rules were illegal. That individual is John A. Taylor, a multi-rotor builder and flyer living in Silver Spring, Maryland. An insurance attorney, Mr. Taylor is representing himself. He started flying model aircraft approximately one year ago and has become passionate about the hobby. He expected other hobby groups or drone manufacturers to file suit against the registration rules but when they didn’t, he decided to step up himself. Although he plainly admits that he has no aviation or administrative law experience, as a long-time litigator, he says he’s up to the challenge.

Mr. Taylor is requesting that the court “issue an order declaring that the [FAA's registration rule] is void” and prohibited by Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. He alleges that that section specifically prohibits the FAA from promulgating any new rules or regulations regarding model aircraft if they’re flown for hobby or recreational purposes.

Somewhat surprisingly, the legal challenge does not come – as many hobbyists expected – from the Academy of Model Aeronautics. The AMA – which represents over 180,000 model aircraft enthusiasts -has asked its members to hold off on registering their drones until the legal deadline of February 19 for drones owned before December 21, 2015. (Those bought on or after that date must be registered before operation.) The registration requirement applies to drones weighing .5 to 55 pounds. The AMA has stated that it believes the FAA’s new registration rule violates Section 336.

MORE-0 http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngog...-federal-court-over-drone-registration-rules/
 

John Locke

Member
I've often wondered how you guys do all your commercial work when you don't have a recreational or sport pilot license to go with the 333 exemption. Or do you? Erick says he use to be a pilot, Joe wants to be a pilot, however they both do commercial aerial videography work and openly talk about it. Are they just doing what everyone else is doing, hoping they don't get caught by the FAA and build their business as if nothing is wrong?

I look forward to the FAA's 107 plan to be released this summer. It's going to influence when I buy my next drone, an Inspire.
 

Petr Hejl

Staff Member
Moderator
I've often wondered how you guys do all your commercial work when you don't have a recreational or sport pilot license to go with the 333 exemption. Or do you? Erick says he use to be a pilot, Joe wants to be a pilot, however they both do commercial aerial videography work and openly talk about it. Are they just doing what everyone else is doing, hoping they don't get caught by the FAA and build their business as if nothing is wrong?

I look forward to the FAA's 107 plan to be released this summer. It's going to influence when I buy my next drone, an Inspire.

I think this summer may be a bit optimistic for the 107, maybe 2018. Good news is that you'll be able to buy an Inspire3 by then:)
 

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