8/8/2014: FAA has “eductional conversation” with the person who operated drone near Lollapalooza. NBC 5’s Anthony Ponce reports.
The Federal Aviation Administration has closed its review of two YouTube videos taken by an aerial camera during last weekend's Lollapalooza music festival in Grant Park.
A Youtube account under the user name Alfredo Roman has two aerial videos from Lollapalooza, one of the recordings contained footage from electronic DJ Skrillex’s set, and the other of a montage of the festival.
An FAA spokesperson told NBC 5 Friday that the "matter has been closed with an educational conversation with the individual who operated the UAS [unmanned aircraft]," including a discussion of "applicable laws, regulations and requirements."
Anyone wanting to fly a manned or unmanned aircraft in U.S. airspace needs “some level” of authorization from the FAA, according to federal regulations. While it is legal to fly a model aircraft, it must be flown for recreational use, with no commercial purposes.
Roman declined to comment on the videos (view, below) or his dealings with the FAA but he did tell NBC 5 that he doesn't plan to do any more videos over festivals.
An FAA advisory also lays down voluntary operating standards for such aircraft. No one should fly a model while spectators are on the ground until the device has been properly tested, the advisory says. It also should not be flown higher than 400 feet above the ground.
The videos were taken by a DJI Phantom recording device, according to the YouTube posts.
