Feds Crack Down on Rogue South Philadelphia Drone Pilot

Information

South Philadelphia drone pilot Michael DiCiurcio, as seen in one in all his many drone movies (picture through court docket exhibit)

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Feds Crack Down on Rogue South Philly Drone Pilot Michael DiCiurcio

South Philadelphia resident Michael DiCiurcio flies drones throughout Philadelphia and posts movies of his drone-flying for all of the world to see on his YouTube channel, Philly Drone Life. He spends a lot of time doing this. Many drone pilots put up flight movies. However DiCiurcio’s are a bit totally different.

First, he does his finest so as to add comedian narration that normally veers into the foolish and over-the-top, and his South Philly accent on the movies is priceless. Second, he does issues like deliberately crashing his drones (together with into himself — at 40 miles per hour, no much less), purposefully flying by way of horrible climate (the more severe, the higher), and chasing after birds, all whereas he solicits donations from followers so he can proceed his droning. It’s as if DiCiurcio binged just a few seasons of Jackass, purchased a drone, and began filming.

Effectively, you’ll be able to’t simply do no matter you need with a drone. The FAA regulates drone-flying, simply because it regulates the flying of any plane. You want a license to legally fly a drone. There’s an examination you need to cross. And the FAA has a plethora of guidelines designed to ensure your drone-flying doesn’t endanger lives or property.

In paperwork filed on Friday at Philadelphia’s federal courthouse, U.S. Legal professional for the Jap District of Pennsylvania Jacqueline Romero alleged that DiCiurcio violated managed airspace round Philadelphia Worldwide Airport, deliberately flew throughout harmful situations, flew in such a “reckless” method that he misplaced management of his drone with individuals down beneath, operated his drone perilously near the William Penn statue atop Metropolis Corridor and the Comcast Expertise Heart, practically hit a church steeple on one flight, piloted his drone a lot greater than is allowed, and, sure, “chased and harassed” the poor birds.

Romero maintains that the FAA repeatedly warned DiCiurcio and that the company “endorsed and educated” him, however to no avail. She’s in search of an injunction to place a cease to DiCiurcio’s unlawful drone maneuvers. And she or he’s additionally asking the decide to implement a $1,501-per-violation nice which, as she tallies it, involves $182,004.

DiCiurcio, who doesn’t look like represented by an legal professional at the moment, didn’t reply to a number of requests for remark. However none of that is information to him. The FAA has been going after him since 2019. Ethical of the story, writes a drone fanatic on one of many many droning message boards on the market: “Don’t ignore the FAA once they’re making an attempt to succeed in out to you.”

Penn Dives Into AI

The College of Pennsylvania was residence to the world’s first digital pc, ENIAC. And now, Penn will probably be residence to the nation’s first Ivy League undergraduate diploma in synthetic intelligence. Penn Engineering made the announcement on Tuesday morning. The brand new bachelor’s-degree program begins within the fall of 2024. And in the event you’re questioning how a lot stated diploma will price you, a four-year diploma at Penn goes for one thing like $340,000 as of late.

Does Philly Want Extra Rocky?

Kathryn Ott Lovell definitely thinks so. The CEO of the Philadelphia Customer Heart Company (she used to work for the town) is planning “probably the most epic Rocky celebration of all time” for 2026, an occasion she says might evaluate to Austin’s well-known South by Southwest Competition. In order that’s the World Cup, the semiquincentennial, and complete Rocky mania? The yr 2026 in Philly goes to be fascinating, to say the least.

By the Numbers

6:11 a.m.: Time this morning when my youngsters’ college introduced a snow day — and with no digital college requirement. Yay! The Philadelphia college district, in the meantime, operated on a two-hour delay, whereas Decrease Merion college district went digital. Booo!

36: Hours staff will shut the southbound aspect of I-95 between I-676 and the Morris Avenue on-ramp later this month. No, this has nothing to do with the I-95 collapse. That was additional north. That is all in regards to the thrilling I-95 capping mission:

(picture through PennDot)

Native Expertise

There have been heaps and many Tremendous Bowl commercials, however the most-watched one seems to have been the Reserving.com industrial from our personal Tina Fey. Additionally among the many most-watched commercials: the one that includes Jenkintown’s Bradley Cooper and his pleasant mother.

And we simply discovered that 72-year-old retired astronaut Marsha Ivins, a graduate of Nether Windfall Excessive College in Delco, is being inducted into america Astronaut Corridor of Fame. She’s logged greater than 1,300 hours in area. And immediately you’re not feeling so productive.

And from the Down-to-the-Wire Sports activities Desk …

The Sixers had been in Cleveland final night time to face the Cavaliers, beginning Kelly Oubre Jr., Buddy Hield, Tyrese Maxey, Paul Reed and Okay.J. Martin, who was in for Tobias Harris, who tweaked his hip on Saturday. Additionally out: Nic Batum and De’Anthony Melton. It was score-and-answer, score-and-answer within the early going, as the primary quarter ended with the Sixers on prime (barely), 34-33. For as soon as, fan tone on-line was … nicely, a kind of grudging awe at how good the staff seemed.

Particularly when being guarded by former teammate Bang-Bang Niang. “The followers listed here are surprised,” Kate Scott famous, to see the Sixers “torching” their red-hot Cavs. Martin received hit with a T for hanging off the rim and will solely snigger.

Sixers had been up 66-62 on the half. They stretched that result in 9 within the third earlier than the Cavs regrouped and took a 77-76 lead. Extra score-and-answer earlier than Hield racked up his fourth foul late within the third. On the plus aspect, Niang received a T, too, for a foul referred to as on his hip-check of Tyrese that he argued too strenuously about.

The fourth started with the Cavs proverbially clinging to a one-point lead, 91-90. Oubre was protecting us in it with 21 midway by way of. Yet one more T on Max Strus, and we had been up 110-104 with 4:44 left. After which all of it modified in a heartbeat as Hield fouled out: four-point lead, 30 seconds to go. The Cavs’ third three-point strive fell: one-point sport, 15 seconds left. That is why we’ve ulcers, Philly. A Cleveland foul on Ricky Council IV: He makes the primary. He makes the second! Three-point sport, 10 seconds remaining.

Foul on Maxey. He misses the primary. He sinks the second. Seven seconds on the clock. The Cavs, we’re reminded, have gained 17 of their final 18 video games. However we didn’t desire a ethical victory. We received the correct as an alternative, 123-121! The final sport earlier than the All-Star Sport is Wednesday night time — Valentine’s Day — after we host the Warmth at 7 p.m.

Any School Hoops Information?

Simply that I lied to you and stated La Salle confronted Davidson final night time. That’s tonight, at 7 p.m. Sorry, Explorers followers.

The Flyers additionally performed.

All Philly At the moment sports activities protection is supplied by Sandy Hingston.