The FAA said in a release that its rules could “could generate more than $82 billion for the US economy and create more than 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years”, as businesses will no longer have to wait for the government to approve exemptions, and those waiting for clear legal requirements before entering the commercial drone operating industry now have an answer.
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The rule will take effect in late August.
The regulations, however, include limitations – such as requiring drone operators to keep their unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within their line of sight – that effectively prohibit the sort of drone delivery services envisioned by Amazon and Google.
Operators also have to follow numerous rules that apply to model aircraft hobbyists, including keeping drones within sight at all times and not flying over people or higher than 400 feet.
According to industry backers, the rule could generate more than $82 billion for the US economy and create more than 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years, Sen. “It’s a significant development that also bodes well for the next step in bringing medium- and high-altitude UAS into regular airspace operations”.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said his agency is already looking to commercial drone uses beyond those outlined Tuesday.
– FAA completes landmark rules for commercial drones – USA Today – Rules are FAA’s first attempt at comprehensive plan governing unmanned aircraft systems. Gray Television hadn’t used drones yet, although many businesses have done so by seeking an exemption from the FAA.
In addition to the drone-specific requirements, operators themselves must now hold a remote pilot airman certificate which involves passing a knowledge test. EPIC also recommended the FAA implement a national database detailing the surveillance capabilities of commercial drones.
For more information go to the FAA website.
Drones can only fly during daylight and twilight hours-assuming they have lights on them.
Simply put, people will no longer have to obtain a pilot’s license in order to send their drones into the sky, according to The Verge.
Drone industry officials have long complained that restricting drone flights to daytime precluded a great many uses like some search and rescue operations, agricultural operations best done after dark and roof inspections of commercial building roofs that use heat sensors. These rules will affect anyone that wants to start a business using drones, from a one-man operation to take wedding photos from a drone, all the way up to big-box retailers like Amazon and Walmart that want to operate fleets of drones to deliver packages.
“We are part of a new era in aviation, and the potential for unmanned aircraft will make it safer and easier to do certain jobs, gather information, and deploy disaster relief”, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “After years of work, DJI and other advocates for reasonable regulation are pleased that the FAA now has a basic set of rules for integrating commercial drone operations into the national airspace”.
The news comes as the adoption of drones has spread across the country.
Waivers are available for some of the restrictions, provided the pilot can prove his or her operation could be done safely, FAA spokesman Les Dorr told Gizmodo in a phone call.
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The rules do not deal with privacy, but the FAA and DOT strongly encourage UAS pilots to check local and state laws before gathering info via remote sensing or photography.
