Table of Contents of Article
Proven Authority on Drone Law
Jonathan has made numerous media appearances — including in The New York Times, Politico, Forbes, and other outlets — as a drone attorney. His legal analysis on drones has been sought after by major media networks as well as industry-specific publications. In addition to providing expert commentary, many of these outlets have cited his legal work in their reporting on significant drone-related stories.
If you are a member of the media and interested in interviewing Jonathan, please contact him.
Jonathan is currently a contributor to Forbes.com, covering aerospace and defense. He has also served as adjunct faculty at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he taught the Unmanned Systems Legal and Regulatory Compliance course.
Proven Experience
Few drone attorneys have experience with manned aircraft. Jonathan began his aviation career as a flight instructor in South Florida in 2008. He initially taught at a flight school that trained pilots for the airlines. Later, he continued instructing during the day while attending law school at night.
As of April 6, 2021, the following results appeared in the FAA Airmen Directory:
| Current as of 4/6/2021 with a search on https://amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/airmeninquiry/Main.aspx | ||||
| Note. Some names produced multiple hits but the middle name did NOT match. It could be possible that the person has two middle names and the person used different legal middle names for the FAA and their attorney name. | ||||
| Attorney | Firm/Company | Flight Instructor Certificate | Pilot Certificate | Remote Pilot Certificate |
| Jonathan Rupprecht | Rupprecht Law | CFI & CFII | Commercial | Yes |
| Lisa Ellman | Hogan Lovells | No | No | No |
| Matthew J. Clark | Hogan Lovells | No | No | No |
| E. (Ted) Tazewell Ellet | Hogan Lovells | No | No | No |
| Patrick R. Rizzi | Hogan Lovells | No | Private | No |
| Dianna Cooper | Hyudai | No | No | No |
| Brendan Schulman | DJI | No | No | No |
| Enrico Schaefer | Drone Law Pro | No | No | No |
| Mark E. McKinnon | Fox Rothchild | No | No | No |
| Mark A. Dombroff | Fox Rothchild | No | No | No |
| Anna M. Gomez | Wiley Rein | No | No | No |
| Joshua S. Turner | Wiley Rein | No | No | No |
| Gregory S. Walden | McGuire Woods | No | No | No |
| Dean E. Griffith | Jones Day | No | No | No |
| Jennifer L. Richter | Akin Gump | No | No | No |
| Grant J. Guillot | Adams and Reese | No | No | No |
Why hire just a simple lawyer when you can hire an FAA-certificated flight instructor who is a licensed and practicing attorney?
Proven Results
According to Forbes:
The petitioner “has drafted a formidable legal team to represent RDQ to address this and other concerns. Jonathan Rupprecht, a Florida-based attorney who is also an FAA-certificated flight instructor and unmanned aircraft certificated pilot, has a winning track record in challenging FAA rules, having prevailed over the FAA in Taylor v. Huerta, which overturned the agency’s 2015 registration requirement for recreational aircraft.”
Summary of Accomplishments
As of August 30, 2022
As of May 11, 2024
Part 107 Waivers
158+ Waivers Approved (I stopped counting), including:
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Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) package delivery
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BVLOS operations over 400 feet
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BVLOS operations extending more than 10 nautical miles
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Drone light show swarming waivers
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Operations over people
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Operations over moving vehicles
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Operations from moving boats in congested areas
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Over 400-foot altitude waivers
Special Programs with the FAA
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Assisted in setting up and maintaining a Partnership for Safety Program with the Federal Aviation Administration.
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Organized and facilitated ongoing FAA meetings for multiple clients (including organizations) to support complex projects and obtain FAA guidance.
Exemptions
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526+ Total Exemptions Granted
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473+ Exemptions Granted for Part 137 Agricultural Drone Operations
Operating Certificates
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70+ Agricultural Aircraft Operating Certificates completed from start to finish.
Airspace Authorizations
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55 Airspace Authorizations Approved
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21 Authorizations supporting Waiver Operations
FAA-Related Investigations & Litigation
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Assisted in 16 FAA investigations (defense side)
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Supported 6 lawsuits against the FAA (plaintiff side)
Litigation
Defense:
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Criminal defense in state prosecutions (misdemeanor and felony reckless endangerment, trespass, etc.)
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Defense in a case involving alleged drone use to drop contraband into a prison, where law enforcement used counter-drone technology
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Civil defense against claims of invasion of privacy
Plaintiff:
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7 Federal Court Cases, including:
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RaceDayQuads v. Dickson – Challenging Remote ID regulations
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Singer v. City of Newton – Challenging local drone ordinances
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Taylor v. Huerta – Challenging FAA’s 2015 drone registration rule
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Documents & Systems Created
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Qualitative and quantitative operational risk assessments (including probability-of-fatality calculations for ground and air risks)
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Concept of Operations (CONOPS) documents
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Waiver Safety Explanation Guideline traceability matrices
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Operations manuals (including emergency and normal procedures)
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Training manuals
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Safety Management System (SMS) manuals
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Checklists
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Special Security Instructions (SSI) manuals
Other Important Things You Might Want To Know
You can verify Jonathan’s status as an attorney, his eligibility to practice law, and his record of no disciplinary history through the Florida Bar’s website.
Jonathan also carries professional malpractice insurance and can provide a certificate of insurance upon request.
Legal Author
Prior to graduating from law school, Jonathan conducted research on Japan’s integration of unmanned aircraft systems. Based on that research, he authored Drones: Drones: Their Many Civilian Uses and the U.S. Laws Surrounding Them. , a book examining U.S. laws governing unmanned aircraft. The book is currently used as a textbook in multiple university UAS degree programs across the United States.
Jonathan later served as an adviser for one of the amicus briefs in the highly publicized Huerta v. Pirker case.
His first book led to an invitation—while he was still in law school—to co-author the American Bar Association publicationUnmanned Aircraft in the National Airspace: Critical Issues, Technology, and the Law. Jonathan contributed chapters on administrative law, the FAA rulemaking process, and the special rule for unmanned aircraft. This book is part of the collection at Harvard Law School Library.
Recognizing the growing need among his 100+ drone clients for a specialized recordkeeping tool, Jonathan created The Drone Operator’s Logbook, a logbook designed specifically for drone professionals.
Proven Knowledge
The chapter on the FAA rule-making process for the American Bar Association was instrumental in giving him the foundation to assist in the three Taylor v. FAA cases at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the FAA’s drone registration regulations.
Professional Licenses, Achievements, & Memberships
FAA Commercial Pilot’s License with an instrument rating for single-engine and multi-engine aircraft.
FAA Certified Flight Instructor for Airplanes
FAA Certified Flight Instructor for Instruments
Florida Bar License
U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
U.S. Federal District Court of the Southern District of Florida
U.S. Federal District Court of the Middle District of Florida
Eagle Scout
Areas of Knowledge
Over the years of practicing law, I have become familiar with some other areas of the law:
Criminal law (I worked at a criminal defense law firm as an associate attorney).
Export Controls (ITAR/EAR)
Farm leases.
Solar leases of real property.
Rupprecht Law Supports the Know Before You Fly Campaign.
