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Police in the UK will soon be able to ground and seize drones from pilots

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On January 27th, the British parliament heard and debated a bill (for the second time) which gives police and prison authorities more powers to be able to deal with what they see as problem drones. Officially, this means drones that they believe are posing a public safety risk or are flying illegally.

The bill is aimed at those flying around no-fly zones, flying too close to people and buildings and illegal commercial operations. The prison system will also likely welcome the new power, as it will help them to minimise drone-delivered contraband.

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How I got my drone confiscated in Morocco (the most important thing you need to know about drones!)

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With drone photography, things right now are very fast-paced, both in the development of the tech and the implementation of the rules. There’s a lot I can tell you about drone photography. Overarching all of the creative elements the single, most important piece of advice I can give you is this:

Make sure you know the local drone laws, wherever you are and wherever you’re going!

As I mentioned, there’s a lot I can teach about drone photography, I’ve written a lot about it and I have a course live on KelbyOne all about it right now. The appeal of drone photography is huge. It’s been maximized by DJI, who are now the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer (true story) and camera manufacturer. Others such as Parrot and Yuneec are also cashing in on us photographers and our constant quest for new angles.

These new angles are the big appeal, and rightly so. Creatives have it embedded within them. Since our childhood, we have been scoping out birds-eye views. Think about it for a second, when we’re on a plane and we come into land we often stare out of the windows looking for a point of reference in order to see what is familiar to us from a new perspective, such as searching for our home or our favorite stadium, or simply a city skyline. Drones are here to stay. The rules are being implemented and enacted for everybody’s protection. But what does that actually mean for photographers?

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Drone registration is now mandatory in the UK for all drones over 250g and costs £9/yr

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As of yesterday, drone users in the UK will now have to take an online test and pay a £9 annual fee if they want to fly a drone weighing between 250g and 20kg. If you don’t, you could be facing a £1,000 fine. The new mandatory registration scheme comes in the wake of increased calls for drone regulation over fears of their misuse.

First announced back in 2017, the scheme is finally here. There are two registrations – one for the drone owner, and one for those who are flying it. If you own and fly your own drone, you’ll need both. Children who wish to fly drones are also required to take the test, too. And you’ll need to have it done by the end of this month.

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Travel bloggers flying a drone in Iran have been released from prison

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Travel bloggers Jolie King and Mark Firkin were arrested in July for flying a drone without a permit near Tehran, Iran. The couple, known on Instagram as T.W.O. – The Way Overland, was facing up to ten years in prison. However, they have now been released, reportedly as a result of a prisoner swap.

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Travel bloggers face ten years of prison in Iran for flying a drone without a permit

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Travel bloggers Jolie King and Mark Firkin, known on Instagram as T.W.O. – The Way Overland, have been arrested in Iran for flying a drone without a permit. They were detained in July after they were caught operating the drone near Tehran, and they are now facing up to ten years in prison.

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You can now get near-instant FAA authorization to fly your drone in controlled airspace

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If you fly a drone as a recreational pilot in the U.S., here’s some good news. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it’s now granting you a near-instant authorization to fly in controlled airspace. The expanded Low Altitude Authorization and Capability (LAANC) system will allow recreational drone pilots to fly around approximately 600 airports.

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Homeland Security wants to track and destroy drones that they think threaten the public

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Drones have been a gamechanger in the world of photography. With these flying cameras, now everyone can create pro-level footage and video. Unfortunately, there are also a few bad apples who like to use them for shady purposes. Now Department of Homeland Security wants to impose even stricter regulations on drones. So how exactly will this affect law-abiding drone enthusiasts and professionals?

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Flying your drone while drunk will soon land you in jail for up to six months

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At least, it will in New Jersey. The State legislators have just approved a ban on operating drones while intoxicated. When signed into law, the bill will punish pilots who are drunk or otherwise inebriated with up to six months in prison or a $1,000 fine. The vote went through 39-0 in the State Senate and 65-0 in the State Assembly.

It’s not clear exactly when the bill will go into law, but as drone usage rises daily, it sends a pretty clear message. While there is a minimum size requirement for FAA drone registration, there doesn’t appear to be one for this ban. It does state that it will use the standard 0.08 blood alcohol level as being too drunk to fly.

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