With his professional training as a commercially certificated, single-engine and multi-engine pilot; and his certification as a flight instructor for both airplanes and instruments, it’s no wonder that even though there isn’t a pilot on board an unmanned aircraft, drones would pique FIU Law alumnus Jonathan Rupprecht ’13 interest. But, it was during his last year of law school, during the Comparative International Law seminar with Professor Mirow, that he put it all together!
“I compared the Japanese integration of drones to the U.S. integration because they are somewhat similar in their aviation law,” Rupprecht explained. “I am a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and my background as a commercial pilot and flight instructor coupled with my aviation law class and comparative law research paper would make me perfectly equipped to handle this new industry that is about to take off! (Pun totally intended).”
His first book, Drones: Their Many Civilian Uses and the U.S. Laws Surrounding Them, discusses the legalities surrounding the integration of unmanned drones in United States’ airspace. The book gives an overview about unmanned aircraft and their uses. It also covers statutes, regulations and policy statements surrounding unmanned aircraft.
Following the book’s success on the college circuit, Rupprecht went on to co-author the American Bar Association book, Unmanned Aircraft in the National Airspace: Critical Issues. Technology, and the Law, which provides insight into the emerging areas of drone and unmanned aircraft law with a technological perspective.
As a private practitioner, writing two books in one year was no easy feat, but Rupprecht got a head start while at FIU Law. “FIU Law readied me for practice in that I was free to choose this project for my seminar paper. I was somewhat of an expert by the time I completed my research paper. The experts and individuals I contacted for help are now all valuable industry contacts. My trial advocacy classes with Professor Scott Fingerhut and Professor Abbe Rifkin prepared me to interact with other attorneys by giving me ‘thick litigation skin.’ I also took an aviation law class with Professor Ravitch who helped prepare the foundation in this area.”
UPDATES
- Rupprecht is ranked # 3 in the U.S. (July 2015) with the highest number of drone exemption clients.
- Rupprecht has published a drone operator’s logbook.
- Rupprecht is currently co-authoring another book on unmanned aircraft flight instruction.