Sarah Rose (they/them) is a news writer and reporter for AIN. 
Prior to AIN, Sarah worked as a journalist for Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia&#039;s statewide NPR and PBS affiliate. They have also worked for several national nonprofits and as a legislative assistant in U.S. Congress. As an openly nonbinary reporter, they are a proud member of the Trans Journalists Association. 
Sarah is a 2012 graduate of Kennesaw State University.

News Writer

Sarah Rose

While firefighters battled multiple wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area in January, unauthorized drone activity in the region surged, leading to increased law enforcement.
Within the first week of the outbreak of the fires, Los Angeles County Deputy Fire Chief Robert Harris told reporters that officials had already detected four dozen privately-owned drones flying over the fires.&nbsp; At least three people were arrested as a result, police officials said at the time.
In one case, the pilot of a drone that collided with <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-01-10/civil-drone-causes-midair-collision-super-scooper">a firefighting aircraft</a> on the third day of the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unsafe drone operation, federal officials announced.
Peter Tripp Akemann’s drone hit and damaged a water-dropping Canadian Super Scooper aircraft, Quebec 1. The firefighting aircraft was grounded on January 9 after managing to land safely, according to an FAA statement.
According to authorities, Akemann launched the drone from a Santa Monica parking structure on January 9, flying it more than 1.5 miles toward the Palisades Fire before losing visual contact. The drone then collided with Quebec 1, which was carrying two firefighters.
Attorney Glen Jonas, who is representing Akemann, said he is “deeply remorseful for his mistake” and “takes full responsibility for his serious lapse in judgment.”
Akemann faces a potential one-year prison sentence, with the final decision resting with the judge, according to acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally. Under the plea agreement, Akemann must complete 150 hours of wildfire-related community service and pay $65,000 in restitution for the aircraft's damage, McNally stated.
The recent Los Angeles wildfires, including the Eaton, Palisades, and Hurst fires, have caused significant devastation, destroying more than 10,000 structures and resulting in at least 30 deaths. Fueled by extreme drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds, the fires spread rapidly, forcing mass evacuations across LA County.&nbsp;
During rescue and firefighting operations throughout January, aircraft trying to contain the Palisades wildfire were frequently forced to leave the area because of unauthorized drones in the air.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna encouraged folks to stay away from areas devastated by fire.
“If you do not have business in the evacuation areas, do not go there,” Luna said in a press conference last month. “You are infringing upon the work that our first responders need to attend to.”

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Drone Operator That Crashed LA Firefighting "Super Scooper" Pleads Guilty

Pilot " is “deeply remorseful for his mistake”

Unauthorized drone activity in Southern California has surged, doubling in frequency while firefighters battle multiple wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area.

Drone Pilot Who Crashed into CL-415 Waterbomber Pleads Guilty

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

Air traffic control voice relay tests will evaluate sound quality and latency

FAA Contracts Aura to Test Uncrewed Aircraft Integration

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Ascendance and Delair partner on hybrid UAV for French DGA 

Ascendance's Hybrid Propulsion System To Power French Drones

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

The charter operator agreed to buy  multiple Kona production slots from Natilus

Canadian Airline Nolinor Orders Kona Cargo Freighters

Charles Alcock

Remotely monitored autonomous aircraft will have a payload of 600 pounds and range of 300 nm

Pipistrel Flies Nuuva V300 Multi-role Drone for the First Time

Swiss company has completed an initial round of test flights with the hybrid-electric tiltwing

Dufour Set To Ship Aero2 Drones to Customers for Real-world Feedback

Military and challenging commercial logistics applications are priorities

PteroDynamics Expands Horizons for Transwing VTOL Aircraft

Areion is the new name for Spright, which was formerly part of helicopter operator Air Methods

Drone Operator Areion Confirms Aero2 VTOL Order with Dufour Aerospace

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

FAA Contracts Aura to Test Uncrewed Aircraft Integration

Air traffic control voice relay tests will evaluate sound quality and latency

Ascendance's Hybrid Propulsion System To Power French Drones

Ascendance and Delair partner on hybrid UAV for French DGA

Canadian Airline Nolinor Orders Kona Cargo Freighters

The charter operator agreed to buy multiple Kona production slots from Natilus

Pipistrel Flies Nuuva V300 Multi-role Drone for the First Time

Remotely monitored autonomous aircraft will have a payload of 600 pounds and range of 300 nm

Dufour Set To Ship Aero2 Drones to Customers for Real-world Feedback

Swiss company has completed an initial round of test flights with the hybrid-electric tiltwing

PteroDynamics Expands Horizons for Transwing VTOL Aircraft

Military and challenging commercial logistics applications are priorities

Drone Operator Areion Confirms Aero2 VTOL Order with Dufour Aerospace

Areion is the new name for Spright, which was formerly part of helicopter operator Air Methods

Pyka Raises $40 Million for Autonomous Electric Pelican Aircraft

Large-scale UAS has agricultural, cargo, and defense applications

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN