WASHINGTON DC – Last week the Federal Aviation Administration authorized 43 drone operators in Harvey’s wake, for recovery efforts and for news organizations covering it.
But the FAA has also prohibited private drone pilots from flying in a broad area around Houston to avoid areas where emergency aircraft such as rescue helicopters are plucking people from rooftops or searching for survivors. Drones spotted near firefighting aircraft in California last year had prompted the planes and helicopters to land to avoid the risk of collisions.
The FAA is “targeting the responsible members of the various communities who are responding to this type of catastrophe, whether it’s the first responders, the insurance industry or the news media, said Mark Dombroff, a partner at Denton’s aviation-law practice. “This is an object lesson in the utility, the usefulness, the effectiveness of drones.”
The FAA typically allows people to fly drones during the day within sight of the aircraft up to 400 feet in the air and at least five miles from the closest airport. The goal is to avoid collisions with occupied plane and helicopters or damage to property on the ground.
Police and firefighters have used drones for years to inspect buildings or crash sites or search for missing persons. Commercial drone operators routinely inspect construction sites or bridges that would be more dangerous or expensive by other means.
After Harvey swept through, the FAA authorized federal, state and local officials to use drones to assess damage and prioritize recovery efforts.
Eight approvals went to a railroad company to survey damage along tracks running through Houston. Five went to oil or energy companies to look for damage to fuel tanks, power lines and other facilities. Emergency-management officials are checking damage to roads, bridges and water-treatment plants.
