The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
Drones are more prevalent today as both a pastime and business tool, thanks to technology making them less expensive and more powerful. Drones are not toys – federal, state, and local governments regulate their use, and violations can be subject to state and federal civil and criminal penalties.
In Wisconsin, a drone – technically known as an Unmanned Aircraft System or UAS – is generally defined as “an aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.” To qualify as a UAS, an onboard camera or recording device is not required.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates UAS through its authority over the national airspace. All UAS users are required to pay $5 for a three-year registration and must also provide their email and physical address, UAS make and model, and a credit or debit card. Like a drivers’ license, UAS users must carry their FAA regulation certificate and proof of ownership either physically or digitally when they fly their UAS. They must also show the certificate to any federal, local, or state law enforcement officer upon request.
The UAS must always display an identification number. As with a drivers’ license, the registration is connected to the individual, not the UAS. Thus, multiple people operating the same UAS would each need to register with the FAA and pay the required fee. A UAS weighing more the 55 pounds, including payload like a camera, has additional registration requirements.4
Drone Rules Vary Type of Use
Separate rules exist for recreational, educational, governmental, and commercial UAS use. This article focuses on commercial use, defined as any UAS flight that promotes a business in any way.
All commercial drone flights must be conducted by someone with a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. To get certified, one must pass an exam on aircraft operations, airspace and requirements, drone regulations, weather, and loading and performance. This certification must be renewed every two years. Although federal drone law preempts state law, the State of Wisconsin and some municipalities have passed additional rules and regulations.
Drone Use Prohibitions
Municipalities may restrict where UAS can be operated, but cannot suspend or revoke a certification/license. For example, some Wisconsin communities prohibit drone use over parades, festivals, and other public gatherings. In addition to FAA temporary flight restrictions (presidential movements, emergency situations), UAS cannot be flown:
· above 400 feet;
· within 5 miles of any military facility, airport or landing strip without permission;
· within 3 miles of stadiums one hour before and one hour after the scheduled time of any Major League baseball game, National Football League game, NCAA Division One football game, NASCAR Sprint Cup race, Indy Car race, or Champ Series race;
· over a correctional facility, including prison or jail; and
· in Wisconsin state parks, recreational areas, natural areas, Kettle Moraine, Point Beach state forests, and the lower Wisconsin state riverway. The one exception is the Richard Bong State Park Special Use Zone.
Other Limitations
Additional limitations include that UAS:
· can only be flown during daylight hours and must yield to all manned aircraft;
· cannot be flown near wild animals, or impede, obstruct, or harass a person engaged in hunting, fishing, or trapping;
· cannot be operated recklessly, including operating a drone while under the influence of drugs, an intoxicant, or with a prohibited blood-alcohol content of 0.04; and
· cannot be weaponized.
Commercial Drone Use
UAS have many commercial uses, including surveying and topical mapping, monitoring job sites, equipment tracking, and showing clients project progress.
Some businesses are even incorporating UAS into their safety programs for fall prevention and job site incident evaluations. They are especially helpful in accessing dangerous or otherwise inaccessible areas.
UAS also assist in locating utilities and orienting pipelines and railways as well as bridges and buildings.
Practical Considerations for Drone Use
· Practice, practice, practice. Flying a UAS can be fun, but it is not a toy. Learn to operate your UAS safely.
· Get permission from the property owner when operating a UAS. In most cases, a business will be using a UAS on its property or behalf of a customer or owner on their property, so it should not be an issue. However, flying UAS over private land or water is lawful in Wisconsin unless it is at such a low altitude as to interfere with the property’s existing use, or would be considered dangerous or damaging to the persons or the property. Even then, any regular reckless, negligent, inappropriate or harassment by a UAS could be unlawful under existing Wisconsin law, and a pilot would also be liable for any damage the UAS caused to people or property. Also, using a UAS to photograph, record, or observe an individual or place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy is prohibited without written consent. The landing of a UAS on someone’s property without their permission would likely be considered trespassing unless involving a forced landing.
· Inform all workers on a job site that drone use is authorized. Especially on a large job site, a worker may be concerned about prohibited surveillance and notify law enforcement or take it upon themselves to ground the UAS.
· Keep your UAS within your visual line of sight.
· Review local, state, and federal airspace restrictions before flying a UAS.
· Work with your insurance broker to find the program or coverage that works best for your anticipated UAS usage.
Drone Use Going Forward
Currently there are about 900,000 UAS registered with the FAA and likely many more unregistered. Many of these are used commercially, where their presence and use will definitely increase.
As drone technology develops, UAS use by businesses grows, especially in the building trades. With increased UAS use, problems and complications will also be more common. For example, over the last decade, UAS have injured bystanders, halted airline traffic, been unlawfully used to spy on third parties, and have crashed into the Golden Gate bridge at least five times.
Growth in popularity invites ever-expanding laws. Increased use brings more pervasive restrictions and greater penalties for misuse. In Wisconsin, there is a penalty enhancer for committing a crime with a UAS in addition to the underlying penalty. Oversight of commercial drone use has also increased. For example, some states have passed, or are considering, legislation to protect critical infrastructure like wastewater treatment facilities and electric utilities.
Businesses using UAS are well-advised to become acquainted with and stay on top of the very fluid and developing area of drone law.
– Schulze is the director of Legal and Government Affairs for Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin, a construction trade association representing nearly 1,000 businesses literally building Wisconsin.
