20 April 2016

Can't Even Shoot Those Annoying Drones?

Air Drones
According to the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), people should stop shooting drones even if it annoys them or breaks their privacy.

At present, there were at least 12 drones have been shot out of the sky in five U.S. states and the FAA says it’s a federal crime. Even if they’re over somebody's house. Even if they're producing those irritating running chainsaws sound system.

According to a report in Forbes, the FAA says nobody can shoot them down and they can’t disturb or interfere with someone flying a drone. Apparently drone pilot harassment is a bit less of an issue than, say, banging on the flight deck door on a passenger aircraft, but it’s still against the law. Enforcement, however, seems sketchy — as in, no one's been arrested yet under the federal statute.

In response to a question from a Forbes reporter, the FAA cited statute 18 USC 32. The aircraft sabotage law authorizes prosecution of anyone who damages an aircraft or commits a violent act against persons operating the aircraft, or even in the aircraft, should that act endanger the safety of the aircraft. Exactly what constitutes an “act of violence” is not defined in the statute, but clearly shooting a drone or its pilot would qualify.

As more hobbyists and people who enjoy cool tech fly drones, the potential for abuse increases, both on the part of drone pilots annoying people and retribution by those who prefer not to be "droned."

Commercial interest in using drones for delivery service is growing. It is now certain that some people won't be happy about unmanned aircraft flying low over homes in their neighborhoods, even if they do have "AMAZON DRONE DELIVERY" stenciled on the bottom. Regardless, they still can’t shoot down drones.

Conviction for violating the FAA statute could result in a 5-year prison term. There so far have been no federal prosecutions for drone or drone pilot sabotage under the law.

The question is, what if these drones put the protected wildlife (American eagle) in danger?