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This article is from Ireland, but at least here in the US local governments cannot create laws governing anything that is airborne.

by mike_d 1y ago

deepsun 1y ago
Yes, FAA is federal, so the municipal councils would figure that out. My point is that there's a working democratic process for solving problems like that, besides internet frustration. E.g. buzzing someone's home on an airplane is already a real FAA regulations violation, can be even a criminal offense.
eclipticplane 1y ago
Ban any facility that operates delivery drones, then. Or tax them into non-existence.
Spivak 1y ago
No but I see no reason they can't pass noise ordinances irrespective of the means employed. They can't regulate drones but they can fine you for making noise that happens to be a drone. Can you imagine if concert venues could get around noise ordinances by lifting the speakers with drones? Absurd.
- mike_d 1y ago
  The FAA has "field preemption" from Congress. Meaning any state or local law that conflicts with the FAA's stated purpose is automatically rendered moot and unenforceable. The FAAs mandate is the efficient operation of aircraft within the airspace. So a law that bans a drone from using a massive speaker to violate a noise ordnance could be enforced, but a law against the operational noise of an aircraft could not. A city could ban a drone operator from flying over a crime scene low enough to disturb evidence, but could not ban a drone from passing over a crime scene.
  - deepsun 1y ago
    Just buzzing someone's home by flying low (no speakers) is already pretty strong violation, can be criminal (harassing, stalking) per FAA. It's not new, been there since planes became popular.
    - mike_d 1y ago
      If you are intending to harass or stalk someone, yes. Simply conducting normal flight operations (like drones making deliveries) is completely outside the realm of local laws. This is one of the many reasons most delivery companies have gone with designs that don't touch down. If they land, they are subject to local laws.

This article is from Ireland, but at least here in the US local governments cannot create laws governing anything that is airborne.

by mike_d 1y ago

This article is from Ireland, but at least here in the US local governments cannot create laws governing anything that is airborne.

deepsun 1y ago

Yes, FAA is federal, so the municipal councils would figure that out. My point is that there's a working democratic process for solving problems like that, besides internet frustration. E.g. buzzing someone's home on an airplane is already a real FAA regulations violation, can be even a criminal offense.

eclipticplane 1y ago

Ban any facility that operates delivery drones, then. Or tax them into non-existence.

Spivak 1y ago

No but I see no reason they can't pass noise ordinances irrespective of the means employed. They can't regulate drones but they can fine you for making noise that happens to be a drone. Can you imagine if concert venues could get around noise ordinances by lifting the speakers with drones? Absurd.

mike_d 1y ago
The FAA has "field preemption" from Congress. Meaning any state or local law that conflicts with the FAA's stated purpose is automatically rendered moot and unenforceable. The FAAs mandate is the efficient operation of aircraft within the airspace. So a law that bans a drone from using a massive speaker to violate a noise ordnance could be enforced, but a law against the operational noise of an aircraft could not. A city could ban a drone operator from flying over a crime scene low enough to disturb evidence, but could not ban a drone from passing over a crime scene.
- deepsun 1y ago
  Just buzzing someone's home by flying low (no speakers) is already pretty strong violation, can be criminal (harassing, stalking) per FAA. It's not new, been there since planes became popular.
  - mike_d 1y ago
    If you are intending to harass or stalk someone, yes. Simply conducting normal flight operations (like drones making deliveries) is completely outside the realm of local laws. This is one of the many reasons most delivery companies have gone with designs that don't touch down. If they land, they are subject to local laws.