[Editors] Editors meeting minutes - drone photographs

[Thomas S Pixton]

Hi Bill:

Thanks for your comments and links. For our recent aerial photoshoots, CPS and photographer Christopher Harting contracted with AboveSummit<http://www.abovesummit.com/#above>, a media production company specializing in aerial photography and video. AboveSummit has a long track record of flying UAVs in the Boston area in compliance with FAA regulations. Cambridge Police and MIT Police were both notified in advance of the shoots on campus.

Here is what Dave Avery, AboveSummit’s communications manager, says about the current state of regulations regarding the use of UAVs:

"At this time, commercial UAV/UAS flight is covered under existing legislation for model aircraft. This legislation allows model aircraft flight in 'class G' airspace, which is the space from the ground up to 400-700 feet, depending on location. Flight is prohibited (without express permission) within landing range of airports and other aerial operations. Rules governing responsible and safe operation also apply, of course, such as maintaining appropriate speed and keeping the aircraft within sight of the operator.

The FAA has been tasked with developing a set of guidelines for integrating large-scale commercial UAV/UAS flight into the National Airspace System (NAS) but is not expected to have those finished until late 2015. In the meantime, they have come out with a variety of policies, notices, and press releases regarding what is and is not allowed in an attempt to keep a lid on the industry until it is fully regulated. However, until such regulation is codified into law (and likely afterwards as well, given the immense social and financial benefits to be reaped from "drones"), commercial UAV/UAS flight remains legal."

Thanks again for checking in.

Best regards,

Tom


On Nov 24, 2014, at 9:14 AM, William T. G. Litant <wlitant at MIT.EDU<mailto:wlitant at MIT.EDU>> wrote:

Regarding the Editor’s Club minutes item about CPS flying a UAV to photographic the campus, one would hope CPS adhered to FAA guidelines (FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ), which includes a requirement that when a UAV (“drone”) is flown within five miles of an airport (in this case, Logan and several heliports) the operator must notify the airport operator as well as the aircraft control tower. This is the aircraft is flown as a hobby/recreational vehicle. Any other use requires FAA authorization. See http://www.faa.gov/uas/publications/model_aircraft_operators/

Note also http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/11/24/schumer-says-near-collisions-show-need-for-drone-rules/XT64YyuiwMC06jglq0YX1N/story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2014/06/23/close-encounters-with-small-drones-on-rise/

As you might expect, this is an issue of ongoing concern for our department.

Best,
Bill

William Litant
communications director
Aeronautics and Astronautics Department
33-240
Mass. Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA

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Tom Pixton
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Please note I am not in the office on Fridays.







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