Representation in all United States jurisdictions for FAA enforcement actions and FAA civil penalty actions before the FAA and the NTSB.

Hire the attorney pilot, Steven Lamar Thompson, to protect your interest in a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforcement action, or a FAA civil penalty action against a FAA-issued certificate for the alleged operation or conduct contrary to an enforceable statute or regulation under the United States Code (U.S.C.), Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R), and Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), specifically related to an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) “drone.”   

See FAA enforcement actions.

What is an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) “drone” and what federal department regulates it?

An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) is an all-encompassing term for everything that makes a drone/UAV operate: the ground control station with pilot, communications, support equipment etc. Usually the term is only used for more advanced unmanned aircraft that would normally not be called drones or used for civilian use. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a national authority that has the power to regulate all aspects of civil aviation.

14 U.S.C. § 107, governs operations for Small Unmanned Aircraft (UAS). Small unmanned aircraft means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft. Small unmanned aircraft system (small UAS) means a small unmanned aircraft and its associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the small unmanned aircraft) that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the small unmanned aircraft in the national airspace system. Unmanned aircraft means an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

14 U.S.C. § 107.12 provide for operating rules.

Requirement for a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating.

  (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no person may manipulate the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system unless:

        (1) That person has a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating issued pursuant to subpart C of this part and satisfies the requirements of §107.65; or

        (2) That person is under the direct supervision of a remote pilot in command and the remote pilot in command has the ability to immediately take direct control of the flight of the small unmanned aircraft.

  (b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no person may act as a remote pilot in command unless that person has a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating issued pursuant to Subpart C of this part and satisfies the requirements of §107.65.

  (c) The Administrator may, consistent with international standards, authorize an airman to operate a civil foreign-registered small unmanned aircraft without an FAA-issued remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating.

An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot aboard. UAVs are a component of an UAS; which include “a” UAV, a ground-based controller, and a system of communications between the two. Public Law 112-95 Section 336 provides a special rule for “drones” that are within the model aircraft category (Fly under the special rule for Model Aircraft (Section 336.))