Before flying a drone, you must pass the Part 107, which is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA’s) registration test that allows you to fly an unmanned aircraft. Without this registration, flying a drone is illegal and can come with some severe penalties such as fines and possibly even jail time.  Part of receiving your drone registration is that you must learn the laws that govern the use of drones to help prevent any accidents. The rules teach you where you can fly, how high, how far, and much more.

Recently, an army helicopter was hit by an illegally flown drone flying in Staten Island, NY.  The UA60 chopper was flying over a residential neighborhood when the drone struck it at around 8.15 pm. The drone damaged a rotor blade, but luckily the pilot was able to land safely at Linden airport in New Jersey.

The helicopter was in New York for a United Nations general assembly meeting. Joe Buccino, an army lieutenant stated that the aircraft was not targeted, but simply hit by a civilian drone. The drone struck the left side fuselage of the aircraft, damaged a rotor blade, and dented a window. The paratrooper flying the helicopter was well trained and able to act quickly preventing any further damage. The FAA restricts flying of drones or model airplanes within 5 miles of airports.

Drones have been a menace in New York as well as other parts of the country as they become cheaper and more available.

• In February, a GoPro drone crash landed into a woman’s apartment in Manhattan and landed just a few feet from her.
• In March, a drone crashed into a Brooklyn Con Edison power plant.
• In July, a 52-year-old drone operator was caught flying his drone under a passenger jet as it was landing at JFK.
• In 2016, a man in New Jersey was arrested for crashing a drone into the Empire State Building.
• In 2014, a 34-year-old man was caught flying a drone outside the National Tennis Center during a quarterfinal match.
• In April 2016, a drone crashed into a parked British Airways Jetliner.

Reports of illegal drone operations are numerous as these drones violate not only FAA regulations, but also the rights of other people. The regulations set by the FAA and legislative bodies are meant to protect lives and property. By making drone registration mandatory, hopefully more people will learn the rules of the air and prevent future accidents from occurring.