Chicago Aerial Photographers Fined $2 Million For Flying Drones

By Kate Shepherd in News on Oct 7, 2015 4:52PM

Drone via Wikimedia Commons

The Federal Aviation Administration has fined Chicago-based aerial photography firm SkyPan International a whopping $1.9 million for flying drones in Chicago and New York City without permission, according to the Tribune.

The firm flew flew 64 unauthorized flights in New York and one in Chicago between March 2012 and December 2014 and put life and property in danger, the FAA claims.

The drone was not registered with the FAA and did not have a certificate of airworthiness, a two-way radio, a transponder and altitude-reporting equipment required for commercial drones, according to the FAA. But SkyPan says it's "flight approved" by the FAA on its website and a company spokesman declined to comment to the Tribune.

SkyPan allegedly flew a drone illegally at or near 151 N. Franklin St. at the site of a closed Walgreens near the Loop on July 20, 2013. The site is being redeveloped as a 32-story office building by a SkyPan client.

The firm's clients include: The Trump Organization, W Hotels & Residences, Jones Lang LaSalle, InterContinental and many other hotel and development companies, according to their website.

Skypan has 30 days to respond to the FAA's claims.