The Wall Street Journal reports on the murky questions around commercial airspace and jurisdiction as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) use continues to rise. State and local police say complaints by citizens are soaring. International Association of Chiefs of Police President Richard Beary said, “We’ve never been responsible for airspace before. We understand the ground game; now all of a sudden you want state and local police to regulate airspace?” Plus, UAVs are flooding airspace below 500 feet, prompting privacy concerns. One Massachusetts town is declaring that property owners control the airspace 500 feet above their properties, citing a 1946 Supreme Court decision. The case—where does “navigable airspace” begin and property ownership end—now poses a dilemma for regulators and the UAV industry. (Registration may be required to access this story.)
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