The US is set to permit widespread civilian drone flights after the Federal Aviation Administration unveiled a proposal to permit businesses to use small unmanned aircraft.
The conditions: they must be flown at low altitudes by a person who is at least 17 years old, passes a knowledge test and gets an FAA certificate. while proposing strict limits on commercial operations and privacy rules for those flown by government agencies.
Flights wouldn’t be allowed out of sight of the operator or over crowds, and couldn’t exceed 100 miles (161 kilometers) an hour, according to a fact sheet issued by the agency.
Operators must stay out of airport flight paths and couldn’t drop objects from a drone.
“Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace and this milestone allows federal regulations and the use of our national airspace to evolve to safely accommodate innovation,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a release.
However, pizza deliveries or flights to bring goods to people’s homes, like those proposed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, won’t be permitted, Bloomberg reported. Google Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. have also experimented with such technology.
Even with the limits set out, the twin announcements by the Transportation Department’s FAA and the White House “were the most significant attempt so far to set a framework for controlling a new technology that has at times evolved faster than the government was able to react.” said Bloomberg.
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, The FAA’s proposed rules for flying drones in the U.S. for commercial purposes come about four years behind schedule. Photo: Reuters
Allowing drones to be flown for business purposes in the U.S. may produce $100 million or more in economic benefits, according to the FAA.
President Barack Obama, in a separate policy directive also released Sunday, addressed the privacy concerns that have been raised about the increasing use of drones by government agencies.
Agencies must limit the collection and retention of data gathered by unmanned aircraft. Local and state agencies receiving federal grants must also create drone privacy policies, according to the memorandum.
The US Aerospace Industries Association said the draft regulations were a good first step to promote drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems or UAS.
“We believe this step will pave the way for additional service organizations and industries to explore expanded operations and use of UAS technologies,” it said in a release.
The FAA said the potential for drones to save lives justifies their use on an economic basis.
Using drones to inspect radio and telecommunications towers would eliminate the need for workers to climb the structures. Ninety-five workers died climbing those towers in the US from 2004 through 2012, the FAA said.
Similarly, 17 manned aircraft performing aerial photography crashed from 2005 through 2009, killing 19 people, according to the FAA. Drones could take over some of that work.
The proposed rule also said the FAA is considering creating more flexible rules for “micro” drones lighter than 4.4 pounds, which pose lower risks. The agency is asking for the public’s reaction to the idea.
There will be a 60-day public comment period on the regulations.
Source: The Drum
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