Drones – What Drones? Update

Drone story update January 28, 2025

NJ drones ‘were authorized to be flown by FAA for research,’ Donald Trump says

The mysterious drones that captivated New Jersey late last year were not enemy craft, but instead were authorized by the FAA, President Donald Trump said in a statement Tuesday.

The statement raises numerous questions about why the FBI and law enforcement officers did not know and were not advised that the flights had been authorized by the FAA, or why the FAA did not acknowledge that they had authorized the drone flights.

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Previous story – Dec 2024

Jersey cops launched into the night sky with catapults to throw dreamcatchers at the unknown drones to entangle their props and bring em down! Just kidding – I think.

Darrr.. What drones? Those drones pose no threat there are no drones. That’s just a balloon, Everything is secure.

Dec. 14, 2024

Right now, the FBI, DHS, FAA and DOD have been unable to determine who is responsible for flying the drones, and there’s no indication that there are adversary nations involved.

“To date, we have no intelligence or observations that would indicate that they were aligned with a foreign actor or that they had malicious intent,” the spokesperson said. “But … we don’t know. We have not been able to locate or identify the operators or the points of origin.”

“The main point is to deter the activity using some of our electronic means that can respond to most of these small commercial systems and deny them access to the airspace over our bases,” the spokesperson said. “We don’t know what the activity is. We don’t know … if it is criminal. But I will tell you that it is irresponsible. Here on the military side, we are just as frustrated with the irresponsible nature of this activity.”

US Department of Defense News

Darrrrr

National Security Concerns

Flying drones near airports, military bases, or other restricted areas can lead to immediate police action. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has strict rules about no-fly zones, and Michigan police will work with federal authorities to confiscate drones that pose a national security risk. Just like in New Jersey, New York, Florida, California and Nevada.

Flying a Drone

Do I Need to Be Licensed?

If you’re flying a drone for commercial purposes, you must have an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. To get this, you’ll need to pass a knowledge test administered by the FAA.

If you’re flying for recreational purposes, you don’t need a license, but you must follow FAA safety guidelines, including flying below 400 feet and keeping the drone within your line of sight.

Do FAA Laws Supersede Local Laws?

Yes, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) laws take precedence over state or local drone regulations.

This means that federal rules about airspace, drone registration, and licensing apply across the country, including Michigan. However, local laws that don’t conflict with FAA rules—like those concerning privacy or property—can still apply.

Michigan State Laws:

In Michigan, there are no separate state registration requirements for drones beyond the FAA’s regulations. However, local ordinances may still apply, particularly regarding where you can fly the drone, so it’s important to check local rules.

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Beautiful when they are used for good…