Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, have found a wide and
expanding commercial market as they have become cheaper to buy and
easier to use. Practical applications abound: Farmers can
efficiently survey wide expanses of crops and related
infrastructure; photojournalists can gain new access and
perspectives on events; and insurance companies can quickly survey
sites after casualty events. Until recently, however, permanent
rules regarding their safe operation were lacking.
On Aug. 29, the Federal Aviation Administration's
long-awaited regulations for drones weighing 55 pounds or less went
into effect, replacing the temporary regulations that commercial
drones have been operating under for years. The new rules retain
most of the salient safety features as before but, anticipating new
technologies and uses, the FAA also built in flexibility by
providing for a waiver of most of the new rules if a case can be
made.
