The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a set of draft regulations for the legalization of commercial drone flight.
The aircraft must weigh less than 55 pounds, not fly over 500 feet in latitude or faster than 100 miles per hour. And, “at all times the small unmanned aircraft must remain close enough to the operator for the operator to be capable of seeing the aircraft with vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses.” In addition, operators would be required to pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration. (See the summary of proposed regulations)
The proposed rule also includes extensive discussion of the possibility of an additional, more flexible framework for “micro” UAS under 4.4 pounds.
Related Bills in Congress
There have been several bills introduced in Congress related to unmanned aircraft or drones – for civilian and government use:
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Designating Requirements On Notification of Executive-ordered Strikes Act (DRONES Act) (HR 137)
“Will limit preplanned lethal operations deliberately targeting citizens of the United States,” according to the bill sponsor. “Currently, the President can delegate decisions about targeting citizens for lethal strikes. The DRONES Act prohibits this delegation in order to ensure the President is accountable and requires him to personally confirm a citizen’s status as an enemy combatant and the necessity of lethal force. To further ensure that accountability and adequate oversight, it also requires the President, after the attack, to notify Congress of such operations with a detailed explanation of how enemy combatant status was determined and why lethal force was necessary.” (Bill text)
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Safe Skies for Unmanned Aircraft Act (HR 819 and S 387)
“Opens the door for public-private partnerships to support UAS research, allowing universities to accept research funding from the private sector, and saving American taxpayers money. Requires the FAA to remove bureaucratic hurdles to research operations for safe beyond ‘line of sight’ flying, an important research tool for medium- and long-distance applications,” according to the bill sponsors. (Bill text)
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Responsible Skies Act (HR 798)
To prohibit the flying of unmanned recreational aircraft near commercial airports. (Bill text)
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HR 466
To prohibit the Central Intelligence Agency from using an unmanned aerial vehicle to carry out a weapons strike or other deliberately lethal action and to transfer the authority to conduct such strikes or lethal action to the Department of Defense. (Bill text)
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Unmanned Aircraft System Improvement Act (S 159)
A bill to improve the operation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Unmanned Aircraft System Program. “Would prohibit the procurement of new UAS, require DHS to conduct continuous, 100 percent surveillance of the Southern border and coordinate with the Department of Defense to ensure the program is utilizing “best management practices” to improve national security and require DHS to submit a detailed report to Congress regarding the program’s effectiveness, according to the bill’s sponsors. (Bill text)
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