White House Clears Small Commercial Drones for Takeoff (Update)
White House Clears Small Commercial Drones for Takeoff (Update)
White House Imformation
apartment building in Philadelphia. Routine commercial use of small drones was cleared
for takeoff by the Obama administration Tuesday, June 21, …more
Routine use of small drones by real estate agents, farmers, filmmakers and countless
other commercial operators was cleared for takeoff by the Obama administration Tuesday,
after years of struggling to write rules that would both protect public safety and free the
benefits of a new technology.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced the creation of a new category of aviation
rules designed specifically for drones weighing less than 55 pounds. The long-anticipated
rules mean commercial operators can fly drones without special permission.
Industry and government officials describe commercial drones as the biggest game-
changing technology in aviation since the advent of the jet engine.
"This is a watershed moment in how advanced technology can improve lives," said
Brendan Schulman, a vice president at DJI, the world's largest civilian drone-maker.
Jason Miller, an Obama economic adviser, said the rules are the first step toward full
integration of drones in the national airspace system.
Until now, commercial operators have had to apply for a waiver from rules that govern
manned aircraft, a process that can be time-consuming and expensive.
Since 2014 the FAA has granted more than 6,100 waivers and another 7,600 are waiting
for approval. Many more small companies have been using drones without FAA
permission, say industry officials.
Unless those operators make a serious mistake that brings them to the FAA's attention,
there's not a lot the agency can do to track them down. The new rules would provide an
easier way for those businesses to operate legally.
The rules also would effectively lift the lid on flights by other potential operators who
have held off using the technology—ranchers who want to count cattle, research
scientists, and companies that inspect infrastructure like bridges, oil platforms and
smokestacks, to name a few.
Under the new rules, operators would register their drones online, pass an aviation
knowledge exam for drone pilots at an FAA-approved testing center and then they're good
to go. That's a big change since operators currently have to have a manned aircraft pilot's
license.
Operators also would have to follow many of the rules that apply to model aircraft
hobbyists like keeping drones within sight at all times and not flying over people or
higher than 400 feet.
Other important limitations also remain in place. Drone flights will be permitted only
during the day and at twilight. 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.
Operators could still seek waivers to restrictions like nighttime flights, flights beyond
sight of the operator and flights over people.
The rules permit commercial transport of goods by drones for the first time, but the other
restrictions on flights beyond sight of the operator and over people still apply.
White House clears small, commercial drones for takeoff
A hexacopter drone is flown during a drone demonstration at a farm and winery on
potential use for board members of the National Corn Growers, Thursday, June 11, 2015
in Cordova, Md. Routine commercial use of small drones got a green light …more
That precludes delivery drones flying across cities and suburbs clasping small packages
as envisioned by Amazon. Amazon and Google are working on drone delivery systems for
goods purchased online. Google officials have said they expect deliveries to begin
sometime in 2017.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said the agency is researching how drone deliveries
might safely be accomplished, but he declined to set a timetable for such rules.
What's missing from the rules is an enforcement mechanism, said Sarah Kreps, a Cornell
University professor. "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 provide
civilian drones broad access to the national airspace. Initially, the agency put its
emphasis on finding ways to enable larger drones like those used for military missions to
safely fly at the same altitudes as other manned aircraft. Later, the agency shifted its
focus to small drones when it became clear that the market for their uses was developing
much faster.
The FAA's slow pace led frustrated lawmakers to include a provision in a major aviation
bill four years ago setting deadlines for the agency to issue regulations to safely integrate
small drones by August 2014 and other drones by September 2015.
The new rules fulfill that first deadline. 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. In April, FAA officials said they are working on regulations that would permit
some commercial drones to fly over people and crowds based on recommendations from
an industry advisory committee.
New government rules unleash commercial drones
The first aviation regulations for commercial drones were unveiled Tuesday by the
Federal Aviation Administration. Government and industry officials say they expect the
rules to spur greater growth of a budding industry and inspire new uses for the
technology. Key elements of the rules:
OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS
—Drones must weigh no more than 55 pounds.
—Operators or an observer working with the operator must keep the drone within sight at
all times.
—No flights over people who are not participating directly in the drone's operation.
—Daytime flights only, except for a half-hour before sunrise and a half-hour after sunset
for drones equipped with anti-collision lights.
—Top speed limited to 100 mph.
—No flying near airports.
—Exceptions require an FAA waiver.
DRONE PILOTS
—A person operating a drone must have an FAA "remote pilot" certificate, obtained by
taking an aviation knowledge test at a government-approved testing center.
—Pilots of manned aircraft can obtain a certificate by taking a test online.
—Remote pilots must be at least 16 years old.
—Remote pilots must submit to a government background check similar to the security
check for manned aircraft pilots.
TIMETABLE
—Rules take effect in 60 days.
Explore further: A look at proposed drone rules
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