Federal Document Sheds Light on Proposed Drone Rules
Addtime：2015-02-15 16:16
Federal regulators plan to propose rules that would limit commercial drone flights to below 500 feet, daytime hours and within sight of the operator, while also requiring operators to pass written exams, according to a federal document posted online Friday.
The Federal Aviation Administration's proposed rules would herald a significant expansion of commercial drone flights in the U.S. by allowing such flights as long as they comply with a set of standards, including the height limitations and operator requirements, according to a 79-page economic analysis of the proposed rules, which haven't yet been published. The FAA has virtually banned commercial drone flights, approving just 26 operators on a case-by-case basis in recent months.
A drone user spotted the economic analysis on a federal website Friday night and saved it before it was taken down, according to Forbes.
A government official couldn't confirm the veracity of the entire document but said the main details on flight limitations and pilot certification were accurate.
The FAA said that it plans to release its proposed rules, which have undergone review from other government agencies, on Sunday - nearly four years behind schedule. The proposed rules will undergo a public review once published and likely won't be made final until late 2016.
The FAA said in a statement that the rules are part of a "government effort to safely integrate [drone] technology into our airspace in a way that promotes economic competitiveness while safeguarding the rights of our citizens."
The FAA plans to propose the same rules for all unmanned aircraft that weigh 55 pounds and below, according to the document. Rules are already in place for recreational users.
The document says the FAA plans to propose requirements for drone users to have "an unmanned aircraft operator certificate" from the FAA that they can obtain by passing a written exam in person. The certificates would last two years.
The Wall Street Journal reported in November on the FAA's planned limits on commercial drone flights, including requiring operators to be licensed. The Journal reported at the time that the FAA wanted to require drone operators to have experience flying a manned aircraft, but that requirement isn't contained in the economic analysis posted on Saturday.
The draft rules have undergone review from other federal agencies since November. The economic analysis posted online was first reported by Forbes on Saturday.
By Jack Nicas, The Wall Street Journal