In 2012, Congress approved the FAA Modernization and Reform Act (FMRA)
requiring the FAA to integrate drones into the National Airspace
System (NAS). To that end, the FMRA specifically directed the FAA
to issue proposed rules to fully regulate commercial drones and
have the rules finalized by September 30, 2015. Hence, the FAA
published a Small UAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM)—or Part 107—in early 2015. In a previous article, we discussed these proposed
rules. The September 30, 2015, deadline came and went without any
word from the FAA regarding final rules...until now.
Yesterday the FAA released its final Part 107 regulations, allowing the
operation of commercial drones in the NAS. A comprehensive analysis
of these regulations is forthcoming, but in the meantime, here are
some notable highlights of Part 107:
