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FAA Halts Man’s Drone Photography Business Over Regulations

Mar. 15, 2013 1:04pm

Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was tasked last year to open up airspace for more private and commercial use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, these new rules and regulations are not quite there yet. In fact, the drone fleet of one Minnesota business was recently grounded because the FAA isn’t slated to begin issuing commercial permits for UAVs until 2015.

Earlier this month, NBC reported aerial photographer Mark Bateson pointing out that many hobbyists can get away with UAV photography or videography under remote-control guidelines.

“But as soon as you turn it into a business … the FAA says you are violating the national airspace,” Bateson said.

According to WCCO, this is exactly what happened to Charles Eide and Mike Danielson of Brooklyn Park, Minn. The pair flew RC aircraft growing up in the same neighborhood together and in adulthood shared a love of photography and videography.

This is where they combined the two with Fly Boys Aerial Cinematography, putting cameras on their drones and taking aerial photos of anything a customer might need.

“It helps sell houses, which is really in my opinion a huge economic impact in the Twin Cities — helps houses move faster,” Eide told WCCO.

Watch WCCO’s report:

Here’s how they describe the work on their company website:

We are a Passionate group of film makers excited about amazing aerial cinematography. We capture our film and photos from a variety of cameras and lenses mounted on Radio Controlled Helicopters and Multirotor systems to get the smoothest, most incredible low range aerials. We are a Minnesota based Drone and unmanned, low range aerial company. We shoot for Television, Film, Corporate, Non Profit and more. Our Radio Controlled Airships are safe and reliable. Our Pilots are some of the best in the world.

[...]

All Aerials are flown with visual line of sight. That means that our RC Heli Pilot controls the aircraft by looking directly at it. Our Camera system sends a wireless video down-link to our ground station that our camera operator controls. The camera operator controls the camera by watching what the camera is seeing, and controlling its direction, focus and other functions to ensure a quality shot.

They also devote a full page on their website to describing how they safely fly the equipment.

Watch this demo showing what they can do:

Business was doing well until recently when they were contacted by the FAA, which said they were violating regulations by flying in “Class B” airspace, or that which is in populated areas near major airports. Eide said they rarely fly above 200 feet and never near airports. A recent drone sighting by a pilot near an airport in New York City resulted in an investigation being launched by the FBI earlier this month.

NBC’s article reported that the current regulations grounding commercial uses of such aircraft are hard to enforce and some are taking their chances against them anyway.

“Honestly?” said one commercial operator who told NBC he wished remain anonymous. “My hope is that I’m far afield enough and small enough potatoes to the FAA that I can fly under the radar on this one.”

Eide said he and his partner hope to work with the FAA to remedy this situation. Now being made aware of the regulations though, the Fly Boys have a disclaimer on their website saying they can only fly for demonstration purposes at the time.

–

Related:

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Comments (58)

1 2
  • StargateSG1fan
    Posted on March 17, 2013 at 9:28am

    Wait until hackers get into the system!!! What about 1st amendment rights, if its over my house I’ll photo shoot it, moon it, what ever you have. Wait, this country no longer cares about the constitution.

    Report this comment

    StargateSG1fan  
    • NotEntirelyEvil
      Posted on March 18, 2013 at 7:59pm

      You have no idea how badly I wish I could set up a duck blind near an RC airplane park and pick off the little buggers. If you ever do shoot one down, can you take video and post to YouTube?!

      Report this comment

      NotEntirelyEvil  
  • StargateSG1fan
    Posted on March 17, 2013 at 9:26am

    Commies spied on their own people too. and look at that outcome.

    Report this comment

    StargateSG1fan  
  • TheShadowJr
    Posted on March 16, 2013 at 1:18pm

    Government may be discouraging aerial photography so that government behavior can’t be observed. This kind of technology would be a great way to cover news events. The fact of the matter is sometimes government doesn’t want any witnesses. There is also a concern about individual privacy. The FAA’s concern about small objects flying below a few hundred feet, if there is a profit motive, seems to be a difference without a purpose. Following this logic the FAA could regulate professional sports because balls are put into the air for profit.

    Report this comment

    TheShadowJr  
  • Secret Squirrel
    Posted on March 16, 2013 at 12:28pm

    RC helicopters using cameras have been providing images for sports and movies for years.
    Ever watch golf and see the fairway descriptions? How do you think they get those shots?
    I can promise you a major network used a RC helicopter years ago on NASCAR. Movies shoot with
    cameras like this often.
    Think we should tell the FAA? Eh.

    Report this comment

    Secret Squirrel  
  • TheFederalist
    Posted on March 16, 2013 at 9:59am

    Really! Well then the FAA should go tell Washington to cease with the drones over the U.S. The federal government in Wash. D.C. is a corporation.

    Report this comment

    TheFederalist  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on March 16, 2013 at 8:26am

    If it is good enough for Uncle, it is good enough for the man’s business! But, I do not agree with either using it.

    Report this comment

    watashbuddyfriend  
  • sinner-saint
    Posted on March 16, 2013 at 4:13am

    Geez dumb a$$es, you never fly a drone, UAV, or an RC aircraft to make money. You don’t charge anyone to fly and take pics/video as a service. ****** off the real pilots with real planes and the government/FAA also. You do all that as a hobby and keep it as a hobby. You charge for the video processing/editing and photo processing/editing service only. That way, you not flying and making money off arial photography services. You’re making money off video/photo processing and editing services. Any video/photos you process/edit……doesn’t matter how you got them or obtained them, you’re not charging for the photo taking services (arial or otherwise). Dumb a$$es.

    Report this comment

    sinner-saint  
    • DonaldH
      Posted on March 17, 2013 at 7:09am

      Put two and two together—“Big Sis” recently labeled those who flew “RC Planes” as possible radicals and placed them on her infamous watch- list along with those that sport a “Don’t Tread on Me” bumper sticker on their cars—

      I have heard rumors of an organization that has several of these—some with night vision—now use your heads as to why the government is (goose) stepping in to take firm regulatory control of this….

      Report this comment

      DonaldH  
  • media-bias-steals-elections
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 9:29pm

    The 4th amendment does not just apply to government employees, it applies to everyone, want to take a picture of a house, fine, send it a processing facility that destroys any parts of images that you don’t have permission to take the picture, and if the FAA determines you did not violate any safety rules based on the height, distance and geometry, you get to keep your film?

    Oh, that’s bad for business? Lets move some farmland, yeah, we like those pictures, get that new weather modification company on the line for me? Hello, Dr. Evil? Did you like the pictures I sent you? After you create the drought for ten years and force them out of their homes for bankruptcy, make sure I get my 10%?

    Moving houses can have more than one meaning? No, this kind of thing would not help drug lords kidnap people and sell them in the underground slave market, why that kind of thing has not happened for centuries?

    Tax authorities with over active imaginations will help move real estate too, by claiming the cost to replace your house for insurance purposes will give you insurance premiums too high to keep up with ten years from now, or property taxes too high to keep up with? Sometimes what people does not know, does not hurt them?

    Don’t you just love technology that unites people instead of divides them?

    Report this comment

    media-bias-steals-elections  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:06pm

      As a Private pilot I cannot take a Real Estate investor up and fly them over a house so they can take photos and get paid for it, unless I have a commercial pilots liscence, and now the FAA is even changing that rule now….It costs a lot of money to get a commercial rating and you may make a little but not enough to live on, so someone with a Helo camera like the one that I have can do it a lot cheaper, but you cut into other businesses that do it for a living.

      I have a friend who flies for the industry and his camera is called a Cineflex which is mounted on the nose of the Helo, you will never get that resolution or quality from a Drone mounted camera etc…Not even military spec cameras and I know because I stay up on all the Aerospace technology etc…..A ciniflex is only used for commercial and movies because of the cost and delicacy of it, there are maintenance issues etc…Military wants hard core beat it on concrete technology and you cannot get that resolution out of it.

      Besides there is a company that builds a manned aerial platform based on a KingAir 300, and I think the company is out of MacDill, this is a manned drone called a Spyder and flies at probably around 15,000 ft agl and is watching us all the time.

      Bottom line is the FAA is trying to protect the commercial ratings guys who put in the time/money to have the right to make money…..These guys have a junk little toy.

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
    • GB__The Holy Warmonger
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 2:13am

      Ridemodel,
      You summed up the real purpose of licensing – to protect a select few from competition. Protecting the public is just the excuse for the government to control us.
      If it really were a safety issue then hobbyist wouldn’t be allowed to do exactly the same thing.

      Report this comment

      GB__The Holy Warmonger  
    • nc_writer
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 6:32am

      No, he didn’t. The argument about private pilots not being able to perform commercial operations is an old one in the aviation community. I am a private pilot too and there are reasons we cannot do commercial things, just as there are reasons you cannot fly a manned drone in class-B airspace. A pilot with a Private rating has not proven sufficient experience to safely conduct such a flight; it’s a bit like telling a 16 year old with a new driver’s license that they can be a taxi driver in New York.

      Similarly, you cannot fly a drone in class-B airspace because that is the rule. The control tower controls the immediate airspace around airports like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York because there have been mid-air collisions that killed hundreds of people in the past. Perhaps a drone flying at 200′ isn’t much of a problem, but what about one flying at 500′, 1000′ or 2000′? The rules say “to the surface”, which is 0′, so that is where the line is drawn.

      These people are not being persecuted, they are being prosecuted. There is a legal way for them to conduct their business; to get a radio, talk to ATC and get explicit permission operate in class-B airspace, just like every pilot has to.

      Report this comment

      nc_writer  
  • HOOT_OWL
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 6:27pm

    That’s why they hate the constitution .They know the gun issue would be a NON issue ,
    if it were not for them four pesky words “shall not be infringed”.

    Report this comment

    HOOT_OWL  
  • pushinginto
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:02pm

    Pretty soon you won’t be able to fly any kites kind of like in Afghanistan.

    Report this comment

    pushinginto  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:15pm

      As a private pilot you cannot take a person up and have them pay you for services…….The FAA requires you to have a commercial rating before you get paid…These guys are skirting the rules and although I think the FAA has always been a large part of bloated Gov., they are protecting the guy who puts in the time and money to do this type of aerial photography.

      I have one of these drones but I would never think of using it for profit because its not fare to the old timers who want to make a little extra cash once they are retired from an Airline, its a respect thing for me and not a Gov control………
      Yes the FAA sounds crazy some times but they have a lot of souls to deal with every day, and if I had been lucky enough for an FAA job then I would love them…lol

      There are already manned drones in the air, just look up Spyder King Air and you may find the plane that already exists and the FAA has cleared it for US airspace since it is manned….but Obama taking guns is a whole different story and some officials are spooked….That is why it seems he is surrounded by Dopes, because the real hard core guys are watching, waiting.

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
  • Vvajk
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:28pm

    I was running an RC aerial video and photo business a few years ago when this crap from the FAA first came out. I saw the writing on the wall and liquidated my equipment and got out.

    Report this comment

    Vvajk  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 10:28pm

      As a private pilot I have always had to deal with the FAA……But in this case they are dealing with the guys who put the time in to get a commercial rating and are trying to make money in a small single engine…..I have had friends who have dealt with FAA who over step their bounds and that is Gov once they get the power……But if you had a commercial rating then you could fly and make money too, just not a lot.

      Maybe we can get a conservative in there that will change things, but its really hard with a Gov this big.

      Just become a phlebotomist and dont even worry about the Gov….thats my plan anyway.

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
  • GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:03pm

    Liz, please consult anyone who has taken ground school or even a pilot’s training manual. This ref is from Jeppesen Instrument Commercial Manual, Copyright 99′ the rules could have changed but not very likely. Chapter 3 classes of airspace, page 3-25 “CLASS G AIRSPACE (UNCONTROLLED) : Class G airspace is that area which has not been designated as Cass A, B, C, D, or E airspace and is essentially uncontrolled by ATC. … Most Class G airspace terminates at the base of Class E airspace at 700 or 1,200 feet AGL(above grd lvl), or at 14,500 feet MSL (mean sea lvl)”
    Pg. 3-20 “CLASS A AIRSPACE: … extends from 18,000 feet MSL up to and including FL600.”
    “CLASS B AIRSPACE: At some of the country’s busiest airports, Class B airspace has been established to separate all arriving and departing traffic. Generally this airspace is from the surface to the 10,000 feet MSL.”

    So I completely agree w/ the FAA, and these guys should know this already. Looks more like free advertizing.

    Report this comment

    GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3  
    • Silvertruth
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:01pm

      RC pilots only have a few FAA restrictions. Calling this thing a ‘drone’ is a misnomer. It likely only has the ability to circle or hover if control is lost. RC aircraft have been flying video for decades now and Point of View (cockpit camera view) RC piloting has been so ‘hot’ for the last 5 years that the gear to do it is still flying off the shelves (pardon the pun).

      Go to any RC enthusiast website and you will see videos much like the Demo here from altitudes as high up as 5000 feet.

      You can get a video capable RC plane up and in the air for less than $500 these days if you aren’t worried about the quality of the video or the plane.

      The issue at point here is the definition and purpose of the word ‘drone’. These guys are right, as a hobbyist, they can do just about anything, if someone pays for their product, suddenly it’s a Federal Issue.

      So every terrorist out there can practice as a hobbyist then they’ll be breaking the law when they actually do something bad. It’s seriously irrational thinking.

      If the FAA actually wants to regulate aircraft taking pictures (which you can happily do from your $8000 Cessna 152), then put in regulations what you CAN’T take pictures of and leave the rest of the market alone. Trying to regulate by aircraft type is beyond silly. They’ll end up shutting down the entire RC aircraft hobby, which (according to some FAA insiders) is exactly what the FAA wants to do.

      The government wants to regulate everything

      Report this comment

      Silvertruth  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:14pm

      groundzero……Yes it sounds like the FAA is trying to help the guys out who get a commercial rating and who are trying to do aerial photography for a living…….I have been in aerial photography for many years and I can tell you that we use a film camera on the belly and a digital out the window, for intersections etc and I read Aerospace and Technology which talks about all the new Gov spy stuff and contracts etc…….its not cheap to keep up a commercial rating but you include that in the price to the client just like the free market always does…..Dont hate her for this story, at least The Blaze is putting stuff like this out, the other media will not even talk about it and that says a lot about Obamatopia…….I am sick and tired of weather woman after weather woman telling me the weather every single minute of every single day, unless it is Spanish news with the top button popped…… :)

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:53pm

      Silvertruth…..There is no way possible that a terrorist will ever have enough know how or techno to use a drone to blow up more than maybe a tweetie bird flying over head…..anyone who knows aeronautical engineering like most RC pilots do, understand the whole electric plane power to weight ratio etc, we all know that there is not a good possibility that you could get an electric RC plane to carry out a task…..and we all should understand that Obama’s stance on renewable energy is just a money shift, the money is now taken from the Oil companies and given to whoever in Chicago…..now Chicago will have their own Hugo Chavez and hopefully the rest of the country will survive this apocolypse…..but I doubt Obama will do nothing but stir the pot in the years to come.

      We dont trust him, the young conservatives on the hill do not trust him and soon all his Drone followers will wake up and smell the big cow pie he has dropped on their head.

      He is just like any other Democrat who has promised the black population wealth and prosperity and unfortunately that will only come with hard work and determination……Freedom has never been free….and Solar powered cars have and always will be a scam……

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
    • GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 8:59am

      @Ridemodels I am not “siding w/ commercial pilots”, it’s a matter of safety around heavy commercial air traffic. Nor do I “hate liz” she is my favorite writer here, probably b/c her articles are not politically charged w/ religious overtones as so many other writers here do.
      The intent was to encourage easy research for greater context/content. With the exception of maybe 3%, who here knows what restrictions the FAA puts on Class B airspace? You must get permission to enter an maintain contact w/ ATC. This is a clear violation of that rule, and these guys should have known the rules before even considering a business that could potentially kill someone. It’s a $60 book or a $100 dollar ground school class, for christ sake, and that’s if you are too dumb to find it on the internet. If they would have followed the rules to begin with, remained in Class G airspace, there would have been no friction with the FAA.
      Not to say the FAA is competent, they really screwed the pouch in Sept of 01′. Granted the FBI is even more incompetent by declaring a crime scene and complete misdirecting the investigation that prevented the FAA for doing it right. The FAA still could have pointed out the FACT, THERE IS NO CREDIBLE EVIDENCE AN AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED AT WTC 1&2.

      Report this comment

      GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3  
  • wilbstal
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:03pm

    all these laws wont mean anything if civil unrest comes who will care about a law when they are trying to stay alive?

    Report this comment

    wilbstal  
  • civilwarcometh
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:50pm

    This so no private citizen will build them and get good at it. When the SHTF they want to own the airspace. They don’t want to have to worry about drone war. And they can be used to locate the DHS police force or track their movements.

    Report this comment

    civilwarcometh  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:08pm

      Yea but as a hobbyist I can still have mine monitoring, just as long as it is not a business.

      Report this comment

      mikem1969  
  • 502_eagle
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:44pm

    The FAA issues licenses to the News Media to fly their helicopters not to use the cameras

    Report this comment

    502_eagle  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 11:21pm

      Yes but the camera rigs mounted on the plane are inspected by the FAA……..I have been in aerial photography for many years and I have a friend who flies a rig for the movies, the camera is called a ciniflex and it is very delicate but very high resolution which movie and commercial want…..Pretty cool but very expensive.

      I also read a lot of Aerospace and Technology…..the FAA has already last year approved a manned aircraft to fly surveillance at about 15,000 due to the camera resolution(they want high res images)….Sorry but people dont need to wait for Drones, manned stuff is up there all the time.

      Look up King Air Spyder and you may find info….may have taken the sight down tho….

      Wait a sec….I got a knock on the door…BRB.

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:43pm

    Now we know how to shoot down a drone with a piece of paper….

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:42pm

    You can’t fly for pay if you don’t hold a commercial airman’s certificate. Doesn’t matter what you are flying, 10 inch quadcopter or a 787.

    Report this comment

    BlackCrow  
    • DimmuBorgir
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:51pm

      Can’t we just start saying, F the FAA and any other agency??

      I mean seriously fly your little quad copter wherever you want. The dumbasses probably won’t notice.

      Report this comment

      DimmuBorgir  
    • GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:07pm

      Incorrect, ANYONE can fly in Class G airspace, even without a pilots license.

      Report this comment

      GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3  
    • Fatal_Error_404
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:57pm

      Nope. This type of operation would not necessarily need a commercial pilot’s license. There is currently no Commercial UAV pilot rating. @groundzero- You can do a lot. One can even fly with no medical screening, with limitations of course, as a sport pilot. However, as soon as you try to make a buck in the flying business the FAA wants to be in your back pocket. Nobody flies, legally, without some sort of pilots license. For the quad copter flying all you should really need to do is get a letter of authorization from your local FSDO, Flight Standards District Office. They come out check your operation out and issue a simple letter that says you can do this operation with certain restrictions. Depends on the FSDO, they may be pissed that they did not check with the FAA, first and just say no out spite.

      Report this comment

      Fatal_Error_404  
    • RIDEMODELS
      Posted on March 16, 2013 at 12:02am

      I believe you can fly without a Radio or a Mode C transponder in a class G but I would check the regs…..Like fatal said, the FAA wants their cut even though you could try and argue it, they have unlimited resources as some friends have found out the hard way……You could ask a FSDO but take them out to Hooters when you ask and they may be happy to oblige…..I just dont see this happening when Commercial pilots are out there with the proper paperwork trying to do it….these guys are monkey wrenches in the FAA cogs…..

      Big Gov wins…….Big Gov wins…….and everyone hates the FAA unless they have a job with the FAA….Just like liberals hate a CEO until they are a CEO…..

      Report this comment

      RIDEMODELS  
  • FlagWavingPatriot
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:35pm

    The drone wars, begun they have.

    Report this comment

    FlagWavingPatriot  
  • mikem1969
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:29pm

    Leave it to the government to ruin a perfectly good business.

    Report this comment

    mikem1969  
    • SimpleTruths
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:25pm

      So let’s just go with no regulations at all, right? Every man for themselves. Sorry I prefer living in a civilized society.

      Report this comment

      SimpleTruths  
    • Max jones
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:20pm

      SIMPLETRUTHS……What we have, actually is faux civility. There are many, many aggressive malefactors in our midst, who are only at bay because we are armed. They can’t exist without people like you who will give up their souls for “peace”. wake up.

      Report this comment

      Max jones  
  • woodyee
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:28pm

    Imagine taking one on a hunting trip, especially for game like pig.

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • 502_eagle
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:22pm

    But Google can take pictures of anything they want?

    Report this comment

    502_eagle  
    • Shasta.Red.Banks
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:27pm

      Google uses satellites in space, not in ‘our’ airspace. But I agree with you, once again the government shows it’s hypocrisy.

      Report this comment

      Shasta.Red.Banks  
    • 502_eagle
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:34pm

      Google doesn’t ONLY use satellites though yeh that is their bread and butter

      Report this comment

      502_eagle  
  • spirited
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:20pm

    Oh Big Brother where art thou?

    Report this comment

    spirited  
  • MDECKER
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:18pm

    “Capricious and Arbitrary” Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Five seconds before it was labled a business, aerial photos were ok but, once a business, not?

    Report this comment

    MDECKER  
  • Looking_Up
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:15pm

    That’s actually some pretty nice video. If it is remote controlled how is it a drone?

    Report this comment

    Looking_Up  
    • Max jones
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 5:12pm

      All drones are controlled, from the ground or sometimes from a vehicle of some kind. R/C hobby aircraft are flown the same way. Most military drones include “FPV”, or first person photography.

      Report this comment

      Max jones  
  • Xiccarph
    Posted on March 15, 2013 at 1:15pm

    I guess that’s why Big Brother can fly and spy anytime they want, because they are not a “business”.

    Report this comment

    Xiccarph  
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