Reward of $75K For Information To Catch Drone Pilots Who Flew Over California Wildfires, Will This Prevent Future Drone Interference?

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 22:35:09 -0500

Looking to make a quick buck???
Seriously though, this has the potential to be deadly if the drones prevent aircraft from taking off to extinguishing fires, or cause one of the aircraft to crash...
What are your thoughts? I really don't think they will find these 3 guys who flew on those days, but will this prevent these drone operators from flying in/around these fire areas in the future?

"Officials want to know who flew drones near several wildfires in California's San Bernardino mountains, causing firefighters to temporarily ground their flame-battling planes.

The reward for someone who identifies the drone operators? $75,000.

"In the most recent fire, the North Fire, we saw cars and trucks burning on the freeway, we saw homes burn, and we saw families running for their lives," Jorge Ramos, chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, said in a statement.

"We want to know who was flying drones, and we want them punished," he said. "Someone knows who they are, and there is $75,000 waiting for them."

San Bernardino District Attorney Mike Ramos said that the drone operators could be prosecuted for murder if the drones caused delays that led to deaths of any firefighters or civilians.

Small drones pose a danger because they can be sucked into the jet engines of low-flying air tankers, county officials said.

San Bernardino County is offering up to $25,000 for information on three separate July incidents. Drones were seen flying above the Lake Fire, Mill 2 Fire and the North Fire, the last of which jumped the 15 Freeway to destroy 20 vehicles and four homes."

$75K Reward to Catch Pilots Who Flew Drones Over California Wildfires

Officials want to know who flew drones near several wildfires in California's San Bernardino mountains.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Nov 6 at 2015 11:32 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 23:32:56 -0500

Here's a good article --with a very interesting legal approach. On one hand the judge ruled that the FAA has no enforceable rule to govern the operation of an unmanned vehicles. On the other hand, the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) suggested the operation of such vehicles can go "beyond the realm" of recreational aero-modeling. Now, I like to shoot my .22 rifle. But, I don't engage is such activity at the intersection of I-25 and I-70. Why? Beyond being unsafe, common sense dictates that it's simply not a good idea. To this, I forecast the FAA and AMA will come together with the intent to start governing drone operators. Where necessity may be the proverbial mother of invention, when someone gets injured (or dies), a new law will emerge --preventing someone else's asshattery.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/faa-cant-regulate-small-rc-aircraft-as-drones-judge-rules/

FAA can’t regulate small RC aircraft as “drones,” judge rules

NTSB judge strikes down $10,000 fine against man for unlicensed "commercial use."

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 6 at 2015 11:46 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 23:46:13 -0500

If they just shot them down we would not have this conundrum.