Apple Hires Drone and Aviation Law Expert as Washington Lobbyist

[MacRumors]

Apple has retained Lisa Ellman, a lawyer specializing in drone and aviation law, as a Washington lobbyist, reports Bloomberg.

Ellman, a partner at law firm Hogan Lovells, leads her firm's Unmanned Aircraft Systems practice and also co-founded the Commercial Drone Alliance. She has been doing lobbying work for Apple since December.

A DJI Mavic Pro drone​

Apple since 2016 has been using drones for data collection purposes to boost the quality of Apple Maps. Apple's drones are able to capture and update mapping data faster than the LiDAR-equipped minivans that it has used to collect mapping information since 2015.

Apple in 2018 was also a participant in a pilot program that allows the company to operate drones in ways restricted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Apple partnered with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to use drones to capture aerial mapping data.

Bloomberg suggests that Apple's new lobbying efforts indicate a new push into the growing drone field. Apple also has a team working on satellites that Ellman could potentially assist with when it comes to regulations.

In addition to employing drones for mapping purposes, Apple also sells popular drones from DJI in its Apple retail stores and on its website.

Article Link: Apple Hires Drone and Aviation Law Expert as Washington Lobbyist

 

[480951]

Professional briber*

 

[guzhogi]

Slightly off-topic, but I kinda wonder what an Apple drone would be like? I'm sure it's a super-niche market, but would be interesting

 

[alexandr]

millions of apple drones in the sky. introducing apple maps live.

 

[Jay42]

In addition to employing drones for mapping purposes, Apple also sells popular drones from DJI in its Apple retail stores and on its website

I'm thinking these are not the reasons behind this decision. ?

 

[Jefe's MacAir]

I'm wondering if this is related to the mysterious drone sighting in NE Colorado, SE Nebraska and NE Kansas recently. It's been quite a display to say the least.

The $$$ involved in the drones involved could be explained by Apple's stash. Everyone suspected Amazon and maybe Google but I don't think anyone thought of Apple.

 

[name99]

But have they hired an expert in Bird Law? THAT is the question.

 

[dugbug]

likely for maps data collection, so makes sense right

 

[synergize]

millions of apple drones in the sky. introducing apple maps live.

The Apple drone will get lost using Apple maps.

 

[alexandr]

The Apple drone will get lost using Apple maps.

not unless it has to use public transportation...

 

[itsmilo]

I still don’t understand how bribing, I mean lobbying is legal. That’s just a fancy word for corruption. It’s better than narcos giving you a visit I suppose

 

[Peel]

With the news earlier this week that the US government will stop using all civilian drones produced by Chinese companies, if Apple plans to come out with a drone device of their own, the timing to hire a lobbyist is spot on.

 

[Rocko99991]

More surveillance. Nice.

 

[mac_in_tosh]

The number of places where you can legally fly a drone keeps shrinking.

 

[podlasek]

They are probably having to hire lawyers and lobbyists due to the draconian rules the FAA put into effect basically making the United States a no fly zone for drones without a Part 107 pilots certification

 

[wigby]

I still don’t understand how bribing, I mean lobbying is legal. That’s just a fancy word for corruption. It’s better than narcos giving you a visit I suppose

Because it's not illegal to offer a bribe. It might be illegal to accept but how can you prove it? Just because someone accepts money or favors and also agrees with the one that gave it to them does not make them corrupt automatically.

 

[Kabeyun]

Apple in 2018 was also a participant in a pilot program

A drone operator was involved in a pilot program! Ha!

 

[ButterScotch55]

If not, I know someone who is ?

But have they hired an expert in Bird Law? THAT is the question.

 

[bketchum]

In the book trilogy The Neanderthal Parallax, everyone has personal drones circling around, quietly out of site, recording everything, and beaming it all to the cloud. It's a kind of near-future story where you don't have to get your phone out to take pictures or record video. It's done for you every second of the day.

 

[EdT]

I'm wondering if this is related to the mysterious drone sighting in NE Colorado, SE Nebraska and NE Kansas recently. It's been quite a display to say the least.

The $$$ involved in the drones involved could be explained by Apple's stash. Everyone suspected Amazon and maybe Google but I don't think anyone thought of Apple.

i live in Nebraska, and the drones are mentioned at least 4 or 5 times a week. Some estimates are that the drones are much larger than average consumer drones, with an up to 6 ft wingspan. But i haven’t seen anything that actually confirms that statement.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Because it's not illegal to offer a bribe. It might be illegal to accept but how can you prove it? Just because someone accepts money or favors and also agrees with the one that gave it to them does not make them corrupt automatically.

Oh it’s illegal alright. Maybe not in your country but in the US you can get yourself quite a lot of trouble just by offering a bribe (especially to a public official).

Even in this day and age, laws matter.
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I'm thinking these are not the reasons behind this decision. ?

Satellites, huh? Hmmm could be interesting...

 

[saintstryfe]

But have they hired an expert in Bird Law? THAT is the question.

No, but Craig Federighi is actually well versed in APE LAW.

 

[BvizioN]

The Apple drone will get lost using Apple maps.

Does that meme still breathe? I thought it went extinct 65 million years ago with Dinosaurs!!

 

[bobob]

This is clearly the prelude to Apple's next game-changer:

A much larger iPhone that doesn't weigh down your pocket because it flys around following you.

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

Bureaucrats that have never ever flown a drone are killing the hobby. I fly in and around trees in parks, if a plane is sharing the same airspace as me, it has WAY bigger problems than my 500g drone.

Now you cant fly a 500 g drone within hundreds of metres of people or property. But driving a 3-ton car within meters of pedestrians at a similar speed? No worries mate. ??