Aviation Blog

December 17, 2015 | Drone Law | Section 333 Exemption

Section 333 Attorney or Section 333 Preparation Company?

All commercial UAV operators have asked themselves this Section 333 preparation question: should I hire a Section 333 attorney or Section 333 preparation company to prepare my petition? It’s tempting to answer that question with another question by saying, “the Section 333 preparation company is cheaper…why would I spend more money for a Section 333 […]

November 3, 2015 | Drone Law | Section 333 Exemption

Is Recreational Drone Registration Practical?

The announcement that the FAA will require recreational drone registration by the end of the year has generated new interest and even some refreshed hatred for drones in our nation. Seemingly, everyone from your neighbor to your grandmother is talking about drones and whether or not recreational drone registration is necessary. Everyone is torn on […]

November 2, 2015 | Pilot Law

DUI and the FAA: What Should I Do?

Navigating the treacherous terrain of a DUI and the FAA can be tough. Did you know that you could have your airmen certificate suspended or revoked for certain offenses related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol? Beyond that, the FAA can deny an application for any certificate, rating, or authorization in response […]

October 29, 2015 | Pilot Law

Liability in the Dynamic Airways Boeing 767 Engine Fire

Let’s discuss liability in the Dynamic Airways Boeing 767 engine fire that occurred at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport on October 29, 2015. The plane, a Boeing 767 bound for Caracas, Venezuela, had a serious engine fire while taxiing for departure on Taxiway B. According to the Air Traffic Control (“ATC”) feed, everything happened relatively quickly.

October 28, 2015 | Drone Law

Operating A Drone Near An Airport: A Guide

In order to avoid ending up on the nightly news or worse, the FAA’s list of civil penalty recipients, it’s a good idea to have at least a cursory understanding of the regulations/rules in place for operating a drone near an airport. There are so many UAV operators out there right now that don’t know […]

October 27, 2015 | Pilot Law

Pilot Deviation Penalties

Pilot deviation penalties can be stiff. What is a pilot deviation? A pilot deviation is an action of or by a pilot that results in a failure to comply with an ATC clearance and/or instruction. The penalties for pilot deviations can range anywhere from a FAA Administrative or Enforcement Action, a “709” ride requirement, or […]

October 22, 2015 | Drone Law | Section 333 Exemption

Do I Need A Pilot’s License to Get a Section 333 Exemption?

The first question most people seem to have about getting a Section 333 Exemption, is “do I need a pilot’s license to get a Section 333 Exemption?” This is an especially good question for people that want to use their drone for things like photography, real estate surveillance, agriculture, and filmmaking, because these folks typically […]

October 21, 2015 | Drone Law

FAA Drone Registration Rulemaking Process: Will They Make It In Time?

The FAA drone registration rulemaking process may be more involved than Anthony Foxx and Michael Huerta are letting on. On October 19, in a joint news conference, the two aviation “bigwigs” announced their proposal to develop a drone/UAV registration system. This, of course, is the government’s response to ever-happening incidents between drones and other aircraft […]

October 15, 2015 | Pilot Law

“Pilot-In-Command” Insurance Exclusions

Most prudent pilots know that accidents happen. Despite expensive training and exercising an abundance of caution, the unexpected can happen…which is one reason why pilots purchase accidental death and dismemberment insurance. Did you know, however, that sometimes your accidental death policy will exclude coverage for accidents occurring when you are acting as a “pilot or […]

October 8, 2015 | Drone Law | Section 333 Exemption

Avoiding Civil Penalties for UAV Operations: Don’t Be the Next SkyPan International

As you may or may not know, the Federal Aviation Administration recently announced that it is expecting to fine SkyPan International, a Chicago-based drone company, a whopping $1.9 million for “endangering the safety of [American] airspace.” The announcement of this incredible enforcement action seems to be the FAA’s warning to the public that unauthorized UAV […]