Will Defer To FAA Regulations When It Comes To Unmanned Aircraft

Maybe this will be the start of a trend. The Aurora, CO City Council has decided that it does not need to enact drone legislation specific to the community.

Instead, the town will follow regulations set forth by the FAA.

The Aurora Sentinel reports that the council's public safety committee determined last month that there was just no need for city-specific drone regulations, where other cities in Colorado have already done so.

The city of Aurora owns a DJI Mavic drone for use by the Aurora police department, and senior assistant city attorney Nancy Rodgers said there are many other uses for such an aircraft, such as building and water tower inspections and emergency operations. 

Aurora Police Department division chief Jim Puscian said that there are three licensed drone pilots on the police force, and that the department requires more training than the FAA. The city has also used contract drones and aircraft owned by volunteers it at least four instances in the last few of years, including mapping a murder scene and an SAR mission to locate a boy who went missing earlier this year.

It was also used to find a 13-year-old boy who went missing in April. That child was found in a park two days later.

The APD is considering purchasing a more sophisticated drone for police work. Meanwhile, hobbyist drone pilots who meet FAA requirements appear to have a safe haven in Aurora, CO.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report