Theft and Recovery of Multiple Spray Drones—Ensure Security Measures Are in Place at Your Operation; Report Unlawful Operations to Pesticide Enforcement Agencies and FAA
The FBI was investigating the theft of multiple spray drones in the Northeast last month to ensure they wouldn’t end up in the hands of nefarious perpetrators (see New York Post article here). According to Channel 6 Action News in Philadelphia, the drones were recovered April 27th “at Prudent Corporation, located in Dover, New Jersey. The stolen drones were dropped off at the Dover warehouse the same day [of the theft], where they have apparently been sitting ever since, according to workers who said they noticed them and called police.”
This incident prompted NAAA to prompt aerial applicators to reiterate its security measures. If you see anything suspicious, please contact the TSA toll-free, 24/7 hotline to report suspicious activity 1-866-GA-SECURE (1-866-427-3287). Also follow NAAA’s Ag Airfield Watch security measures which can be found by clicking here.
Licensed professional manned and unmanned aerial application operations that witness unlicensed and/or erroneous aerial application practices are encouraged to report such activities to the FAA and state pesticide application enforcement agencies (see link here). Enforcement against an individual or persons violating these provisions can be taken by reporting violations to the state pesticide enforcement officials, found here, or the FAA’s Flight Standards District Offices, found here.