Search for missing man marks Texas group’s resumption of drone use following court ruling

HOUSTON — A Texas-based group that had been embroiled in a legal fight over its use of drones in its searches for missing persons has resumed utilizing the unmanned aircraft.

Texas Equuearch began using a drone Wednesday in its search in Livingston in East Texas for a 57-year-old man missing since July 9.

The flight is the first since the group received a favorable appeals court ruling earlier this month.

The group had stopped using drones in February after it received what it described as an order from the Federal Aviation Administration to stop the flights.

Texas EquuSearch sued the FAA, and an appeals court ruled earlier this month that the FAA warning to the group had no legal consequences.

An FAA spokesman declined to comment on Wednesday.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/7b97c941838c4584bbae68481d53d9a9/TX–Search-Drones-FAA-Dispute