CALL FROM THE FAA

Bert OConnor · Mar 12, 2016

riverphantom3 said:
To the FAA guy who called thank you for being so nice. So today my father got a call from the FAA saying that I have to remove some of my videos, such video as me flying over my town which isn't allowed for some reason, that I had to remove the video of my fathers property that I have record (commercial use? I didn't charge him so?) he talked about things I have posted on the forms. He talked about company's I've recorded for (without the drone) I guess he was warning me that I couldn't use the drone in my company videos. The reason I got a call is because some one on the forms "complained", I do not know who complained, I'm sure they will never tell me but I made this post to warn everyone that this isn't the nice private community that we think it is, also be careful on what nice videos you try to share with the world, they might get you in trouble. The FAA is mailing me a letter, I will post a picture of it when I receive it.

LuvMyTJ posted the Arkansas guy's video. This is twice now I've heard of people getting a call from the FAA. How did the FAA know it was you, personally YOU, that posted those videos? How did they get your phone number? This sounds a LOT like those bogus "IRS agent" phone calls people get and then send the "IRS agent" money before they get sued / arrested. If a representative of a US Federal Agency wants my attention, it have either be in-person with FAA ID and/or on FAA letterhead with a Wash. DC return address, name, and phone number, otherwise, it's complete B.S.
The FAA does not have the human resources or time to chase down every drone video uploaded to the internet and IF they do have the people and time to do this, then why the HELL is it taking them so long to incorporate UAVs into the NAS?! Sure sure I'm positive they visit forums like this and monitor what people say and do but I have no fear of that because I have already registered my UAVs with the FAA, they have N numbers, and I have my Sec. 333 and COA, so I'm very much on their radar. Not only that, I've voiced my displeasure to both Sec. of Transp. Foxx and the Admin of the FAA regarding the required manned aircraft pilot's certificate necessary to fly commercially with a 2 POUND PLASTIC TOY. So my advice to everyone here is these phone calls are BS, talk is cheap, if they want to harass you by phone in the future, have them call your lawyer. Otherwise tell them if they do it again you'll not only call your attorney, you'll call the FTC and complain about harassing phone calls from the FAA.

pe9999 · Mar 12, 2016

riverphantom3 said:
My dad said it was legit that's the first thing I asked

Unless your dad represents the FAA or has same authority as FAA, his word is not the final say.

DeadGrunt · Mar 12, 2016

riverphantom3 said:
To the FAA guy who called thank you for being so nice. So today my father got a call from the FAA saying that I have to remove some of my videos, such video as me flying over my town which isn't allowed for some reason, that I had to remove the video of my fathers property that I have record (commercial use? I didn't charge him so?) he talked about things I have posted on the forms. He talked about company's I've recorded for (without the drone) I guess he was warning me that I couldn't use the drone in my company videos. The reason I got a call is because some one on the forms "complained", I do not know who complained, I'm sure they will never tell me but I made this post to warn everyone that this isn't the nice private community that we think it is, also be careful on what nice videos you try to share with the world, they might get you in trouble. The FAA is mailing me a letter, I will post a picture of it when I receive it.

I work with a government agency that is in the same facility as the FAA at our location. First of all, if someone is a Federal Officer (as I am), you do not, and are not mandated to provide anything without us, first identifying ourselves as Federal Agents, and never without our contact information provided. Whether I am contacting someone, or they walk in, I am mandated to identify myself. In person, I have to tell them my name, provide my government credentials and inform them as to why I need to speak with them. If it is a telephonic conversations, NO ONE is bound to say anything to me, UNLESS, I identify myself, and then give them a phone number to call me back, address, nature of contact and only then, if they feel comfortable. Anyone can be anyone on the phone. With that being said, I am going to tell you what I think.

Did they give you a callback number?
Did they give you their location, or a phone number of their office?
When your aircraft is registered with the FAA, they give you the guidelines such as no higher than 400 feet, and over crowds (which 3 people can be a crowd in a porta potty).
You can use your aircraft to record anything for anyone, provided there are no monetary fee rewards. if you do, then you do have to fill out the forms and abide by that criteria.
If they do mail you a letter, please update this forum.
As for posting videos, we all know that you can find anything from picking a lock to soft porn on YouTube.
Unless you are a minor, and a dependent of your parents, you are an adult at the age of 18. For any government official to contact your father if you are not, is a violation of your privacy, and infringes on your personal rights. You see, even when we arrest someone for an internet crime like child porn or internet fraud, the first thing we do is check to see if their wifi signal is password protected. If it isn't, it is a ***** to prosecute them because anyone can pilfer their internet, and just because the IP Address comes back to their location, an open internet means anyone can use it. Thus, the rest areas along the interstates, are now one of the most utilized places for conducting illicit online activities. And the IP address comes back to the state. Couple that with browsers such as TOR, it makes their laptop impossible to identify.
In your case, if you are over 18, then whoever contacted your father, and is sending you a letter, needs to have his Superiors contacted. Also, I would call the closest Congressman's office in your area, and take that letter to him.
You can use your aircraft for your personal choices. When you charge a fee, or violate the FAA prohibited stuff, then you can be fined. If someone is trying to "punk" you out just to have you remove the videos, then I would make **** sure I did nothing until I had a point of contact to go see the politician.
One final note, EVERY SINGLE government employee is bound by their oath not to abuse their title or position. If this person, if they are a government employee, and is calling without official capacity, I would contact the media.

I hope this gives you a little help, but when I read your post, this is NOT how the FAA in our building works, and called one of them to make sure. Sounds to me, like someones, "Mangina" is hurting and wants to just stir up crap for no reason at all

Ham Sandwiches · Mar 12, 2016

Have you guys never talked to a federal agent on the phone? The government can and does conduct business over any means, electronic, in person, etc. Whatever lets them do what they are trying to do most effectively.

I have had phone conversations with FBI agents, customs agents, you name it. A federal agent's time is limited like anyone else, why on earth would they drive an hour+ to show up to someone's house and hope that they are there when a phone call will do?

If the government wants to notify you, they will send a letter. If they want to talk to you, they will call or visit you. They absolutely can and do call, and the identification is usually pretty perfunctory. "Hi this is <agent soandso> with <agency>, can I talk to you about <topic>".

For everyone calling scam, a scam involves doing something to someone. It's not calling up and BSing them, and it's not getting them to take down a video. Anyone that was scamming as the FAA would not say that a followup letter is coming from the FAA. If they are willing to scam to the point of a followup letter, I can tell you that some youtube takedowns are not worth that risk or effort.

Sorry the people calling scam / bs seem to be really uninformed and just basing their objections off the assumption that the US government doesn't call people. The US government will reach you however they need to!

mschore · Mar 12, 2016

People are being bullied by some of these laws when they are already settled law in the US for photography. All a "drone" (I hate that designation since a real drone is a military weapon) is for the most part is a remote camera. As long as you are photographing a public place or someplace that can be viewed from a public place the person complaining can go pound sand. Additionally, just like the IRS, if the FAA has a problem they would send you or your father a letter detailing the infractions. I would look at the number used to call and back track it. Someone is trying to be a pain in the ***.

Bill S · Mar 12, 2016

The FAA will not call on the phone. Your first contact will be a letter. And, they don't have time for this petty stuff.

Ham Sandwiches · Mar 12, 2016

Bill S said:
The FAA will not call on the phone. Your first contact will be a letter. And, they don't have time for this petty stuff.

I don't quite understand these posts. It's very possible that someone at the FAA sat down and said starting in March we'll go through Youtube videos for any flagrant violations and contact the uploaders. Between youtube records, FAA records, and identifying information in the account they probably have a real good success rate of finding a contact number for someone.

If there is an agent that is working on this, why would they not call you? Where is the part of the process that says "Oh wait we're the government, if we want to talk to regular people we have to send them a letter, so it's time to contact the letter writing department and give them a list." Why are people so convinced government agencies won't call you? They have desks and offices and phones, and business cards, and you can use their phone # to reach them! It works just like every other employee ever. There's no special rules that forbid US Government employees from picking up a phone, or having ever used one.

riverphantom3 · Mar 12, 2016

Redhook said:
Ok...this is getting a little ridicules! I read these post to learn about many aspects of my P3P and most of it is good information. First there is the poster who is consulting with some country that ends in STAN to help fight ISIS and now River's dad gets a call from the FAA. Either you want attention or your dad was "PUNKED" by some of your bro's that you hang out with. I'm not calling you a BS'er yet but the FAA and all of the other federal agency's do not call people as the initial contact.
PS...if you get a call from a Nigerian Princess that is willing to share her wealth if you send her $900 for a flight to the US, don't do it.

The number was 336 369 3972 the FAA

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riverphantom3 · Mar 12, 2016

Google the number

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John Williams · Mar 12, 2016

There was a YT video where a guy claiming to be from FAA posted; sorry can't recall the video.

Also, how did the FAA agent know you were over 400 ft? Are you a member of a CBO? The 400 ft "suggestion" is not a law. It's surprising how many think it is.

Hopefully John Taylor will win his lawsuit vs FAA. I have not registered and will not until the courts determine the FAA can willfully ignore laws passed by Congress and make it up as they go along.

riverphantom3 · Mar 12, 2016

Bill S said:
The FAA will not call on the phone. Your first contact will be a letter. And, they don't have time for this petty stuff.

Google the number

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riverphantom3 · Mar 12, 2016

John Williams said:
There was a YT video where a guy claiming to be from FAA posted; sorry can't recall the video.

Also, how did the FAA agent know you were over 400 ft? Are you a member of a CBO? The 400 ft "suggestion" is not a law. It's surprising how many think it is.

Hopefully John Taylor will win his lawsuit vs FAA. I have not registered and will not until the courts determine the FAA can willfully ignore laws passed by Congress and make it up as they go along.

Don't have the money to fight he FAA

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penguinmaster · Mar 12, 2016

riverphantom3 said:
To the FAA guy who called thank you for being so nice. So today my father got a call from the FAA saying that I have to remove some of my videos, such video as me flying over my town which isn't allowed for some reason, that I had to remove the video of my fathers property that I have record (commercial use? I didn't charge him so?) he talked about things I have posted on the forms. He talked about company's I've recorded for (without the drone) I guess he was warning me that I couldn't use the drone in my company videos. The reason I got a call is because some one on the forms "complained", I do not know who complained, I'm sure they will never tell me but I made this post to warn everyone that this isn't the nice private community that we think it is, also be careful on what nice videos you try to share with the world, they might get you in trouble. The FAA is mailing me a letter, I will post a picture of it when I receive it.

what a nark

John Williams · Mar 12, 2016

riverphantom3 said:
Don't have the money to fight he FAA

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It doesn't change the fact the FAA cannot make up laws that don't exist. Join Don't fly Stupid and you get the same rights and privileges as the AMA granted by Congress.

.

riverphantom3 · Mar 12, 2016

John Williams said:
It doesn't change the fact the FAA cannot make up laws that don't exist. Join Don't fly Stupid and you get the same rights and privileges as the AMA granted by Congress.

.

How will joining help me?

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flashoser · Mar 12, 2016

FAA does not even call pilot's and I'm a pilot of many year's, they have not enough man power, or the resources to do so, Harassment...Figure this...or else censorship...just to weird...

Air Ontario · Mar 12, 2016

It was likely a local FAA FSDO inspector. He may simply enjoy you tube like many here. He saw it while looking at you tube. It was flight over a populated area, it had a real estate for sale number within the footage, he judged the height based on known local elevations, yada yada.

Or he received a complaint and then all of the above happened.

Same process as he would do if he was looking at submitted photo evidence.

He may even be sympathetic or feel his time is better used doing real work but he decided to give a courtesy call as a heads up, stop it before he would be forced to follow up on it an issuing fines.

Droner412 · Mar 12, 2016

One thing that all of these phone calls seem to have in common is that it was very easy to find contact info and names of those who were called... Otherwise they would need warrants to track you down--and that would never happen.