Drone Rebels: Flying to Make a Buck

(Source: actionnewsjax.com)  

Greg Cromer makes a living taking pictures from the skies. While looking for the perfect shot, he’s keeping an eye out for something else. Drones.

“It’s a little terrifying,” he said.

Commerical drones are taking flight without special permission from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Drones can go from ground level to a couple hundred feet up in seconds, making them tough for pilots to spot.

“It unnerves you when you get reasonably close to another aircraft,” Cromer said.

Through the Freedom of Information Act, we obtained several cease and desist letters sent from the FAA. Inspectors warn operators they’re flying without authorization and putting the public at risk.

Jose Buezas of Jacksonville used one of his drones to capture the fairways during a PGA Tour event.

The FAA ordered his company to ground the unmanned chopper.

Action News wanted to talk with Buezas and went to his Southside business address. He wasn’t there.

When we did talk with him on the phone, he wouldn’t go on camera. Buezas said he doesn’t care what the FAA said: He needs to fly to stay in business.

The FAA wants commercial drones powered down while it creates the rules. Attorney Brendan Schulman represents drone operators and said the FAA is turning operators into outlaws.

“We have some brilliant people who know this tech who could really be contributors to this country’s growth,” said Schulman.

Cromer wants commercial drone operators to wait for FAA approval.

“We don’t want anybody to get hurt in the air. For any reason,” Cromer said.

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