FAA Suggests $1.9m Fine Against SkyPan Over Drone Operations

The Federal Aviation Administration has recommended that SkyPan International Inc. be hit with a $1.9 million civil penalty over its alleged drone-based violations of airspace regulations. Between March 2012 and December 2014, the company allegedly performed 65 UAS operations without permission, doing so in "some of our most congest airspace and heavily popular cities," according to the FAA.

Says the FAA, the operations were illegal, and also posed dangers. Reportedly, SkyPan conducted 65 commercial UAS flights above Chicago and New York during the aforementioned time period for reasons that involved photography. Of these, 43 of the flights allegedly happened in New York Class B airspace; air traffic control did not clear the operations.

The government agency goes on to say that all the flights were performed sans proper registration and airworthiness certificates, and without any sort of waiver or authorization certificate. Finally, the FAA says that SkyPan's operation was "careless or reckless" and that it put property and/or lives at risk.

Said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, "Flying unmanned aircraft in violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations is illegal and can be dangerous. We have the safest airspace in the world, and everyone who uses it must understand and observe our comprehensive set of rules and regulations."

SOURCE: FAA