U.S. regulator proposes largest fine against drone operator

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday announced the largest civil penalty to date against an unmanned aircraft operator for allegedly "endangering the safety" of the country's airspace.

The FAA said in a statement it proposed a 1.9-million-U.S.-dollar civil penalty against SkyPan International Inc. of Chicago, alleging that the company conducted 65 unauthorized drone operations in some of the country's most congested airspace and heavily populated cities from 2012 to 2014.

The alleged flights involved aerial photography and 43 of them flew in the highly restricted New York Class B airspace, the regulator said. Class B airspace is generally airspace from the ground to up to 10,000 feet (about 3,000 meters) in altitude surrounding the busiest airports in the U.S.

The company is accused of operating the aircraft "in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger lives or property."

The drones were not equipped with a two-way radio, transponder, or altitude-reporting equipment. They also lacked an airworthiness certificate and effective registration, the federal regulator alleged.

In addition, SkyPan did not have a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization for the operations.

"Flying unmanned aircraft in violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations is illegal and can be dangerous," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "We have the safest airspace in the world, and everyone who uses it must understand and observe our comprehensive set of rules and regulations."

SkyPan has 30 days to respond after receiving the FAA's enforcement letter, the federal regulator added. Endit