The federal government issued long-awaited rules authorizing
businesses to start using small drones, but they don't resolve some
of the biggest safety issues: flying them safely over people or
beyond the visual sight of designated pilots.
Without approval to operate in such conditions—current
prohibitions left untouched by the regulations—industry officials
say some of the most promising applications of unmanned aircraft
remain years away.
The Federal Aviation Administration decision, as expected,
limits approval to drones weighing less than 55 pounds, and
operating in daylight under 400 feet. Operations are allowed during
twilight only if the drone has anti-collision lights.
The drone's speed must not exceed 100 miles an hour. The new
rule takes effect in late August. Reflecting escalating industry
frustration over the slow pace of opening airspace for drones, the
FAA established a procedure for requesting a wide range of
exemptions. Those could involve night operations, extended flights
beyond visual range and a single pilot controlling more than one
drone.
"Our focus here is to make this as streamlined as possible,"
said FAA administrator Michael Huerta.
Modest revisions from agency proposals in early 2015 lower the
maximum altitude to 400 feet from 500 feet and lower the age limit
for operators to 16 from 17.
The response from lawmakers was mostly positive. Rep. Peter
DeFazio of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation
Committee, said the rules are "intended to create certainty and
predictability for safe, authorized operations—to protect all users
of the airspace as well as those of us on the ground."
"The new rules codify common sense," said Jon Resnick, policy
lead for the world's largest drone maker, SZ DJI Technology Co. of
China.
Even as drone advocates welcomed the culmination of a drawn-out
process establishing the first formal, industrywide safety
standards, manufacturers, users and industry consultants said the
rules stop far short of what is necessary to exploit the full
capabilities of drones.
Experts agree that harnessing them to inspect power lines,
highway bridges, railroads tracks and cellphone towers—all
relatively dangerous jobs for workers—would offer huge economic
benefits.
The FAA's most optimistic internal projection indicates it will
take at least another year to publish and implement rules
permitting initial small-drone operations over crowds or densely
populated areas. Approving infrastructure inspections, particularly
at night or in emergencies that can preclude normal pre-takeoff
preparations, seem significantly further down the road.
Still, the rules extend further in some ways than people
expected. Drone operators are allowed to fly their aircraft above
400 feet to inspect a structure. The drone must remain within 400
feet of the structure at all times if it is exceeds the 400-foot
ceiling.
"This opens up a whole area of innovation and use cases that
were to this point prohibited," said Michael Drobac, executive
director of the Small UAV Coalition, an advocacy group for drone
makers and innovators, including Alphabet Inc.'s Google and
Amazon.com Inc.
Mr. Drobac also noted that the rules did not prohibit
deliveries. "In the near term, it appears they are opening the door
to delivery."
"With this new rule, we are taking a careful and deliberate
approach that balances the need to deploy this new technology with
the FAA's mission to protect public safety," Mr. Huerta said.
For many drone advocates the news highlighted how much more
needs to be done before U.S. regulators will endorse widespread
flights beyond the limited, low-altitude variety announced
Tuesday.
Mr. Huerta acknowledged the work that remains. "This is just our
first step," he said. "We're already working on additional rules
that will expand the range of operations."
Brian Wynne, chief executive of the Association for Unmanned
Vehicle Systems International, hopes for rules that will allow more
complex operations. He warns that without more progress, "we risk
stunting the still-nascent industry and restricting the many
beneficial uses of this technology."
Marke "Hoot" Gibson, the FAA's senior adviser for drones, has
said the current debate reflects the "most fundamental change in
aviation in our lifetime."
The tone and specifics of Tuesday's news conference, including
comments by senior White House aides, underscored the Obama
administration's desire to exert a light regulatory touch to foster
innovation.
Earl Lawrence, the FAA's top drone official, has indicated the
agency is "relying more and more on industry consensus
standards."
Jason Miller, deputy director of the White House's National
Economic Council, said the rules are intended "to inspire
confidence in such new technology."
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the expected growth
of drones "truly has the potential to transform the way we
fly."
Write to Andy Pasztor at andy.pasztor@wsj.com and Georgia Wells
at Georgia.Wells@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 21, 2016 13:55 ET (17:55 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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