Check this out: Drone Pilot?s Fine Dropped by Judge Finding Against FAA - Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-06/drone-pilot-s-fine-dropped-by-judge-finding-against-faa.html)


Wayne Mann
HeliCam Aerial Media Services, Aerial Video, Aerial Photography (http://www.HeliCamHDmedia.com)

Gah, what a bad article. No good explanation of WHY it was dismissed. Here is what I pieced together:

"While flying a model aircraft “solely for hobby or recreational reasons” doesn’t require approval, hobbyists must operate according to 1981 guidelines, such as staying away from populated areas," (which he didn't)

"Geraghty (the judge" found the guidelines can’t be enforced, at least for people piloting a “model” plane."

"(made )with a plane made with a foam wing and weighing less than 5 pounds,"

Several other articles list reasons for the dismissal. The interesting thing that has been pointed out is the suit was specifically for his "reckless operation". Which points to there actually being no enforceable ban on commercial use in the first place. The FAA set guidelines and threatened several entities but there is no law to support their wishes…yet. I suspect the first agenda item for the FAA will be defining the different aircraft used as camera platforms. There is a broad sweeping category right now in the aircraft registration process but part of the issue is the crossover into RC aircraft which the FAA doesn't govern. This is not over by a long shot but for now, fly safe and don't give the government a reason to create a law!