The increasing popularity of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, has prompted action from government regulators to increase the safety of their operation. Drones will soon require registration by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to this article: http://www.cnet.com/news/us-department-of-transportation-will-require-drone-registration/
US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced today the creation of a task force that will develop a process for registering drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
“The registration will reinforce the need for unmanned aircraft users, including consumers and hobbyists, to operate their drones safely,” Foxx said. “Registration gives operators the opportunity to learn the airspace rules before they fly and enjoy their devices safely.”
Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) claims responsibility for the safety of US airspace from the ground up. For RC hobbyists (read: noncommercial pilots), the FAA safety guidelines limit recreational use of model aircraft to below 400 feet, within sight of the operator and more than 5 miles away from airports and air traffic without prior FAA notification. These guidelines fall in line with the National Model Aircraft Safety Code of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
The FAA is also developing a mobile app for its No Drone Zone outreach program that will help pilots know if they’re location is safe for UAS flight or if they’re in a no-fly zone. This program is in addition to the FAA’s Know Before You Fly campaign, which outlines the current guidelines for drone flights.
Their has certainly been a lot of news about the commercial use of drones recently. See our recent blog post about FAA’s efforts to streamline the licensing approval process for drones, here: http://landtechco.com/blog/2015/10/19/land-surveying-drones/
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