FAA, SkyPan Settle Allegations Drone Company Violated Airspace, Operating Rules

The Federal Aviation Administration and SkyPan International agreed to settle allegations the drone-photography company operated unmanned aircraft systems in congested airspace over New York and Chicago between 2012 and 2014, said the FAA in a Tuesday news release. SkyPan will pay a $200,000 civil penalty and another $150,000 if it violates regulations over the next year and $150,000 more if it doesn't comply with the agreement. The agency said the agreement settles enforcement cases in which the agency sought a $1.9 million civil penalty, the largest proposed against a drone company. SkyPan conducted 65 unauthorized operations that were "illegal and not without risk," said the agency last year. "While neither admitting nor contesting the allegations that these commercial operations were contrary to FAA regulations, SkyPan wishes to resolve this matter without any further expense or delay of business," the company said in a statement. The company, which served the construction and real estate sectors for 28 years, said it "has never had an accident" nor "compromised citizens' privacy or security."