Drone Incidents Increase, Owner Accountability Decreases

CHARLOTTE, NC– “We look at drones as a vehicle it’s just an unmanned vehicle,” said HobbyTown Owner, Jack Hunt.

Just like vehicles drones can cause deadly crashes if they don’t follow rules. The FAA confirms it is investigating a CMPD report of two men flying a drone from the top of an apartment building in uptown Charlotte Wednesday night.

“You’re not allowed to fly over populated areas, major stadiums and there’s a lot of other outliers as well, such as national parks,” said Hunt.

A drone owner violated rules just last week by flying at night and above 400 feet causing it to come within 20 feet of CMPD’s helicopter, Snoopy.

“Had the drone struck the helicopter at that speed, velocity through the windshield it could have been a catastrophic event,” said CMPD’s Sgt. Kenneth Anderson.

And yet as of two weeks ago drone accountability has been virtually taken away. A Court of Appeals voided last year’s FAA ruling requiring all drone owners to register their devices.

“Almost instantaneously we’ve seen a huge up-tick again in drone sales as opposed to the decline last year when the registration came out,” said Hunt.

Though Hunt says the ruling is good for business, he says most law abiding drone owners agreed with the registration rule.

“It adds a little bit of accountability to each user, binding with the technology the newer drone companies have,” said Hunt.