FAA Proposes Over $341,000 in Penalties; Two Florida Drone Pilots Face Serious Fines

Drones aren’t toys, they are considered aircraft, and they have to be operated that way. Two Florida men learned about Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Drone Laws the hard way this year.

According to a news release, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed $341,413 in civil penalties against 27 drone operators who violated federal regulations, including two cases in Florida. The penalties, issued between October 2022 and June 2024, reflect the FAA’s commitment to enforcing safety standards in the increasingly crowded skies.

Among the most significant fines, the FAA has proposed $32,700 against a drone operator in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The individual flew an improperly registered and unlit drone dangerously close to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office helicopter on September 22, 2021. The operator not only interfered with a critical law enforcement search but also violated several FAA regulations, including flying without a Remote Pilot Certificate, operating at night without anti-collision lighting, and exceeding the 400-foot altitude limit.

Another Florida operator faces an $18,200 fine for flying an unregistered drone during the Miami Grand Prix on May 7, 2022. The operator disregarded a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place for the event and violated several FAA drone laws, including flying in restricted airspace without authorization, not maintaining visual line of sight, and operating without a Remote Pilot Certificate.

“Violating drone regulations puts lives at risk in the air and on the ground,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. “Flying a small drone means you are flying an aircraft, and unsafe behavior will cost you.”

The FAA’s proposed penalties follow the guidelines of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which allows fines of up to $75,000 per violation. In addition to financial penalties, the FAA can suspend or revoke drone operators’ pilot certificates, reinforcing the importance of adhering to safety regulations.

This year’s Florida incidents weren’t the State’s first. Last December, a drone collided with a tourist helicopter near Daytona Beach in Volusia County. The pilot, who was flying for Leading Edge Helicopter Tours, reported to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO) that he saw the drone hovering in front of him but couldn’t avoid the impact. Despite the collision, he managed to land the helicopter safely.

The incident resulted in damage to the helicopter’s rotor blade, with repair costs estimated to be at least $60,000, according to the VSO. It remains unclear whether the helicopter was on an active tour at the time or if there were any passengers aboard besides the pilot. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The number of close calls between drones (sUAS) and aircraft is growing. Nationally, over a nearly three-year study period, researchers identified 24 close-call events between drones and manned aircraft. These incidents included two in 2018, one in 2019, 14 in 2020, and seven in 2021. On average, the lateral distance between the drone and the aircraft in these near misses was just about 215 feet. Among the incidents, 11 involved commercial air carriers, seven involved helicopters, and six involved general aviation aircraft.

All helicopter-related encounters occurred within 1.25 miles of a heliport. Similarly, 10 of the 11 incidents involving commercial air carriers took place within 1.5 miles of an airport’s approach or departure paths and at altitudes below 500 feet.

“Operations near airports are critical flight phases for pilots, with high workload levels. In these areas, aircraft are more susceptible to collisions with small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS),” said Scott Winter, associate professor of Graduate Studies and associate dean for research, who co-authored the study. “The findings from this research provide objective data for operators, government agencies, and airlines to better understand sUAS operations and help prevent potential conflicts.”

As of 2020, an estimated 1.46 million sUAS were operating in the National Airspace System, according to the FAA. The agency predicts that by 2025, the sUAS fleet will grow to nearly 2.4 million units.