It prohibits drones flying over people not directly participating in the operation and says the aircraft must be always within the pilot’s “visual line-of-sight”.
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FAA officials said operators can seek exemptions to any part of this first round of drone rules, which take effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, with the exception of weight, altitude and speed requirements. “We’re already working on additional rules that will expand the range of operations”.
The Obama Administration is suggesting that unmanned aircraft could lead to $82 billion in economic growth by 2025 and support up to 100,000 jobs. They must also pass a TSA background check.
The agency said the new rules were necessary as obtaining a waiver to fly the drones was expensive and time-consuming. Camera-equipped drones can fly over or hover near buildings, photograph things without people’s consent, or even stalk people.
The Agricultural pilot and college instructor trains students to operate drones for commercial use, like crop monitoring, tower, bridge and building inspections and more.
The CEO of drone consulting firm Aerotas said: “Delivery is definitely getting left out in the cold with these rules”.
“We want to make sure we are striking the right balance between innovation and safety”, Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx said.
Amazon won’t be delivering Prime orders with drones anytime soon, thanks to new rules finalized today by the FAA.
DJI Technology of China, the world’s largest drone maker, called the new regulation as “long overdue and very welcome”. These two restrictions limit some of the most ambitious commercial uses, like Amazon’s much-discussed plan to deliver packages via drones, though the FAA will issue waivers to these rules in special circumstances.
In its own press release the FAA admits this is only a “first step” in regulating commercial drone flights, but at least companies can now get up and running without breaking the law. Millions of new users have been attracted annually by commercial drone operations in the U.S. alone. “It is hard to see how the (FAA) actually can ensure that these rules are followed”, she said.
Congress has been prodding the FAA for more than a decade to write rules to enable broad access to the national airspace by civilian drones. The agency is also working on an array of other safety rules and standards to further broaden the circumstances under which drones can be flown.
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The UAV must be operated by a “remote pilot in command” holding a pilot airman certificate with a small UAV rating or by someone under the direct supervision of such a person, FAA said.
