The FAA on Sunday released its official rules for \u201csmall unmanned aircraft systems\u201d\u2014drones\u2014clearly defining what users can and can\u2019t do going forward. A lot of the \u201climitations\u201d are designed to minimizes risks to people and property on the ground, but also ensure that the public doesn\u2019t feel these drones are invading on their privacy. For example, one rule proposes that drones can\u2019t fly over people, except those directly involved with the flight.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said the agency tried to be flexible when writing the rules. \u201cWe want to maintain today\u2019s outstanding level of aviation safety without placing an undue regulatory burden on an emerging industry.\u201d Small drones are considered to be anything 55 pounds and under.<\/p>\n
Any person flying a UAS would be considered an \u201coperator,\u201d which requires some conditions be met before taking advantage of the privilege. Operators need to be at least 17-years-old, and pass an aeronautical knowledge test and obtain an FAA UAS operator certificate; the aeronautical knowledge test would need to be passed every 24 months for the certificate to stay current.<\/p>\n
Once a certificate is obtained, flights would be limited to daylight and visual-line-of-sight, which means you have to see your drone at all times during operation. That means you can\u2019t be sneaky and fly your drone around corners or over walls, even if a camera is attached and you can still view where you\u2019re flying. Below are the big takeaways from the FAA\u2019s rules:<\/p>\n
Additionally, the FAA said UAS operators won\u2019t be allowed to drop objects, which pretty much rules this<\/a> out.<\/p>\n Drone usage has risen considerably over the past several months, and has become a popular tool for filmmakers. Today\u2019s rules finally lay out clear and concise regulations on a growing industry, which has thus far mostly remained unregulated. Drones have been banned in places<\/a> like national parks, and these rules further define when and where you can\/can\u2019t operate a UAS.<\/p>\n