Judge Rejects City Drone Ordinance on Grounds It’s Pre-empted by Federal Law
A judge in Boston struck down Newton, Massachusetts, drone-use restrictions on grounds they were pre-empted by federal law. U.S. District Judge William Young Thursday sided (in Pacer) with resident Michael Singer, an FAA-certified drone operator. Singer said local law and…
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“operation limits” regulate an “almost exclusively federal area of law.” Congress gave the FAA “the responsibility of regulating the use of airspace for aircraft navigation and to protect individuals and property on the ground,” Young ruled. Congress “directed the FAA to integrate drones into the national airspace system,” and “in furtherance of this duty, the FAA has designated specific rules regarding the visual line of sight for pilotless aircraft operation,” Young said. Newton representatives didn’t comment Friday. Young cited an amicus brief (in Pacer) with CTA and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International opposing the local law. “As the court said, the FAA is the authority on drone rules," said Doug Johnson, CTA vice president-technology policy, in a Friday statement. "The federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over safety, flight altitudes, flight paths and no-fly zones.”