What’s that in the sky? A bird? A plane?
It’s a drone!
Drones have been around for some time now. Ever since the U.S. military used them in the Middle East for combat and reconnaissance, companies like Amazon have sought after to use them commercially. Even now, you can buy one for your own personal use.
Most people have purchased unmanned drones for aerial videos and photographs, bridging the gap between professional and amateur movie makers. Some just fly them for fun, and you might have seen them around beaches and parks already.
However, sometimes we just can’t have nice things.
Did you know that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now implementing “Drone No-Fly Zones” in such public places? You might be confronted with a hefty $10,000 fine by the FAA if you are caught.
Pretty expensive hobby, right?
The FAA is even coming down on home realtors for snapping aerial pictures of the houses they are selling, and even making it outright illegal for such uses.
However, you can obtain a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization license from the FAA if you plan on using your drone in public spots like parks, churches, schools, and beaches. However, such inquiries can take up to 60 days to get a response from the FAA, and even then your inquiry is just put under review, which could then take even longer to get approved for personal drone use.
The FAA really likes their skies, and protects them well. So if you are considering purchasing that Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 from Best Buy, consider the laws in your area first before doing so. There are plenty of maps on the internet that you can Google search when you do, and that way you can avoid the fines.
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