So last week I was flying a survey of a commercial property. I was flying for a local authority that sets a fee for stormwater runoff of impermiable surface area.
My spotter and I launched from a public right-of-way alongside of a road. Due to the proximity to a class D, we were limited to 100 feet AGL. Now, that's only about 35 feet or so above the lighting fixtures at this location. We were clearly visible to the people working there.
Within 5 minutes, person #1 came over i inquiring about my flying. I told him I was flying a survey and would be gone in 20 minutes or so. He had more questions that I mostly danced around so as not to give up the client. He told me he was taking a photo of my vest with my company info and I said "fine.. you are in a public space."
5 minutes later the person #2 (the boss) came out. He was much more aggressive and demanded that I land immediately. He said they do commercial truck driver testing for the state and i was not allowed to photograph it. I schooled him in the laws and assured him I was well within my rights. After more threats and insistence that I land NOW, I simply said "the drone is on an autonomous flight path and I cannot stop until the sortie was complete." He threatened to call the cops and I said that he should do so as they will explain the law. He didn't like that response and was still insisting that I land. At this point I told him that if he didn't cease and desist, that he would be interfering with a flight crew and that is a federal offense!!! He walked away after I assured him I would stop by his office after the flight to discuss.
As I walk up to him after the flight he apologized for his aggressive behavior and that he contacted the company lawyers who told him I was ok to do this flight. He suggested that I maybe let people know what I'm doing before flying the mission. I told him that the outcome would be the same only in a different order and that if he asked me to wait until "council" was contacted, I would ignore his request due to my time constraints. Better to ask for forgiveness that beg for permission.
All went well in the end. I did have my binder full of FAA part 107 and beyond, PA State law, case law , and drone privacy laws with me if I needed.
My spotter and I launched from a public right-of-way alongside of a road. Due to the proximity to a class D, we were limited to 100 feet AGL. Now, that's only about 35 feet or so above the lighting fixtures at this location. We were clearly visible to the people working there.
Within 5 minutes, person #1 came over i inquiring about my flying. I told him I was flying a survey and would be gone in 20 minutes or so. He had more questions that I mostly danced around so as not to give up the client. He told me he was taking a photo of my vest with my company info and I said "fine.. you are in a public space."
5 minutes later the person #2 (the boss) came out. He was much more aggressive and demanded that I land immediately. He said they do commercial truck driver testing for the state and i was not allowed to photograph it. I schooled him in the laws and assured him I was well within my rights. After more threats and insistence that I land NOW, I simply said "the drone is on an autonomous flight path and I cannot stop until the sortie was complete." He threatened to call the cops and I said that he should do so as they will explain the law. He didn't like that response and was still insisting that I land. At this point I told him that if he didn't cease and desist, that he would be interfering with a flight crew and that is a federal offense!!! He walked away after I assured him I would stop by his office after the flight to discuss.
As I walk up to him after the flight he apologized for his aggressive behavior and that he contacted the company lawyers who told him I was ok to do this flight. He suggested that I maybe let people know what I'm doing before flying the mission. I told him that the outcome would be the same only in a different order and that if he asked me to wait until "council" was contacted, I would ignore his request due to my time constraints. Better to ask for forgiveness that beg for permission.
All went well in the end. I did have my binder full of FAA part 107 and beyond, PA State law, case law , and drone privacy laws with me if I needed.