FAA Rolls Out Drone Rules: What You Need To Know

After much prodding, the Federal Aviation Administration has finally come up with a set of rules for the use of commercial drones.

The proposal is expected to spark new investment in the technology as the incorporation of unmanned aircrafts becomes more plausible for big businesses.

FAA Proposal

The new rules, which limit the size of commercial drones to 55 pounds, will only allow commercial drone flights during daytime hours and require unmanned aircrafts to stay below 500 feet and within sight of its operator.

Operators will only be required to pass a written test, a change from current drone policies that require a pilot's license. Now that the rules have been made public, the FAA will allow 60 days for public input before finalizing the policy.

What Does This Mean For Those Eager To Incorporate Drones?

Currently, only a handful of companies have gained FAA approval to use unmanned aircrafts for their businesses.

These new rules would open the field and make using drones a more common business practice. However, some argue that the regulations are too restrictive and lag behind the technological need of businesses.

Delivery Drones Still A Pipe Dream

Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN and Google Inc GOOGGOOGL have both expressed their interest in developing drone delivery services, but the FAA rules would prevent either company from moving forward with those plans.

On the other hand, drones used for surveying and monitoring may explode in popularity, particularly in oil and security sectors.

Related Link: Alibaba Is Now Testing Drones

Recreational Drones Unaffected

The FAA rules will have no bearing on recreational drone usage, which currently allows people to fly the aircraft without any licensing, provided they obey the device’s safe-operating requirements.

That means companies like GoPro Inc GPRO, who have long promised to roll out action-camera ready drones, will not be impacted by the FAA proposal.

Posted In: NewsPoliticsTop StoriesMarketsTechGeneraldrone technologyFederal Aviation Administration
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