FAA Eases Drone Rules for Commercial Operators

Flying the drone-friendly skies: this legislation is intended to ease the application process for commercial operators and widen the scope of innovation regarding the use of unmanned vehicles.

Thanks to new legislation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expecting a dramatic uptake in the number of drones used in the commercial sector this year. These new rules, which came into force on Monday, will hopefully ease the process for would-be operators of unmanned aircraft.

Previously, drone operators first had to acquire a pilot’s license and submit their request via a regulator, which considers applications on a case-by-case basis.

But now, all potential operators need to do is pass a certification test.

Despite these new regulations, drone operators will still need to comply with a number of drone-specific safety rules. In addition to registering all unmanned craft, drones cannot weigh more than 55 pounds, fly faster than 100 miles per hour or fly more than 400 feet in the air.

The normal caveats regarding out-of-sight drone flights and the operation of these unmanned craft over people or at night still apply. But, the FAA has also explained that it may be possible for businesses to apply for a waiver to skip some of these restrictions, as long as it can be proven that the drone flight will not contravene safety regulations.

The commercial application of drones is commonplace across a number of industries, with unmanned vehicles being deployed for agricultural purposes as well as for general photography and film-making.

In a statement, Transport Secretary Anthony Foxx said, “People are captivated by the limitless possibilities unmanned aircraft offer, and they are already creating business opportunities in this exciting new field.”

Michael Huerta, FAA Administrator, added, “With these rules, we have created an environment in which emerging technology can be rapidly introduced while protecting the safety of the world’s busiest, most complex airspace.”

Huerta also predicted that the new legislation would cause a surge in drone operators. “The FAA forecasts there could be as many as 600,000 unmanned aircraft used commercially during the first year after this rule is in place,” NPR quoted him as saying.

Looking toward a more drone-friendly future, Huerta added that, “The FAA’s role is to set a flexible framework of safety without impeding innovation.”

[Photo: Slate]