Do we have any drone users here

If they are hanging around a few feet from the windows long enough to wonder wtf they are doing then I guess you'd probably have to consider trying to.

 

Did your YouTube channel get hacked by some fireworks joint?

 

Of course using the Air 2 all my photos are too large of a file to upload here

 

nope, always intended that channel for that purpose. I initially bought the drone for arial shots of fireworks. The timelapse stuff was an afterthought.

I have filmed more timelapse videos, but have not gotten around to editing them. I will eventually post them but I have been very busy.

 

I thought this gentleman figured out a clever use of a drone last week.



Until I realized this is apparently a thing.



I'm expecting we will see additional growth in this space in the future.

 

This is my personal favorite hyperlapse that I have done thus far, everything came together perfectly. The weather, and the trains. I had no idea of the train time tables, I got very lucky, they arrived beautifully in my intro sequence, and riding off into the sunset.

location:

Loves TruckStop Boardman, Oregon

 

LINK

FAA fines Philadelphia drone pilot and Youtuber $184,500
Haye Kesteloo
November 26, 2020
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has fined drone pilot Mikey from Philadelphia, better known as Youtube comedian PhillydroneLife, for $184,500 $182,004 in proposed civil penalties for the drone videos he live-streamed to Youtube. Yes, you read that correctly, $182,004 in fines.

Update: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the fines added up to $184,500. The exact amount is $182,004.00
Update 2: An earlier version of this article had Mikey’s name misspelled. It’s Mikey. Not Mickey.
Update 3: Mikey’s own explanation of the events. See the Youtube video below.
Update 4: Explanation as to why the FAA may have picked the live-streamed videos only. See the video below.


Editor’s note: DroneXL does not condone or support unsafe drone flying. All pilots should follow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drone regulations at all times when flying in the U.S. As I pointed out in the article, I happen to know Mikey because we were on the same drone show once. I do not have access to all the information in this case to assess Mikey’s drone flights. It is a very unfortunate situation, that will hopefully get resolved in a reasonable way.


FAA fines drone pilot and Youtuber $182,004
Early November, drone pilot Mikey received 123 infractions from the FAA. Each letter fining him for $1,500 for various violations. The total amount in civil penalties adds up to a staggering $182,004.

The violations relate to drone videos that were live-streamed to YouTube over the period from December 2019 to August of this year. Other drone videos on the same PhillydroneLife Youtube channel were not penalized.

The FAA has issued fines for various infractions such as flying over 400 feet, reckless flying, flying in the rain, fog, and in strong winds. Mikey explains the situation in a video on OriginaldoBo’s Youtube channel, that I’ll show below.

Since the videos are shown on Mikey’s PhillydroneLife monetized Youtube channel, the FAA seems to have penalized Mikey as if he were a Part 107 pilot, even though he doesn’t actually have a Part 107 certificate, Mikey considers himself a recreational drone pilot who posts his videos as a self-proclaimed comedian on Youtube.

Initial conversations with lawyers have indicated that he will need $10,000 to get any lawyer to look at this case. However, to actually fight the FAA in court the legal fees may reach as high as $50,000 to $100,000. Mikey is in no position to pay such high legal bills, nor does his PhillydroneLife channel bring in that kind of money.

A few questions that come to mind in this case are, why did the FAA go after Mikey when they are so many similar videos out there? Why did the FAA only focus on the live-streamed videos? Is this part of a larger initiative from the FAA to crack down on drone enthusiasts who posts their videos online, in which case many more drone pilots might be affected by the outcome of this case.

Mikey has to respond to the FAA letters before or on December 5th, 2020, so there’s not a lot of time left for him to fight these 123 infractions and the total of $182,004 in proposed FAA fines.

 

I just became aware of this FAA crackdown the other day. It's my understanding that even if you are using a drone that legally does not have to be registered you still are required to get a commercial part 107 license IF you are uploading to youtube. Beware!

 

Only if your channel is monetized.

The Philadelphia guy was not only making money without a commercial license, he was doing other flagrant violations like flying over the altitude limit, and in airport space. The FAA tried to warn the guy, but he blew them off, so the FAA decided to throw the book at him.

He did the drone equivalent of a trucker pulling into a scalehouse overweight, with two flat tires, and then cussing out the DOT officers.

 

I don't have any knowledge of the inner workings of YT when it comes to the money part of it. If I were flying a drone I would go on ahead and get that part 107 license. It's not expensive. I would also add that people are ratting YT channels out to the FAA. I love drones. We have 2 people where I live that have them. I just council caution, that's the whole point of my posts!