commercial drone regulation News

U.S. Plan for Major Expansion of Drone Uses Allows Flights at Night, Above Crowds

The federal government has unveiled a long-awaited set of proposals to dramatically expand civilian drone flights while also tightening security, critical steps for an industry seeking to expand into robot aerial deliveries and scores of other commercial uses in populated …

Report Criticizes FAA Safety Oversight of Drones as Lax

U.S. aviation regulators approved commercial drone applications so quickly in recent years that they missed safety violations and took few enforcement actions, a government watchdog report concluded. The Federal Aviation Administration over a two-year span granted more than 5,500 exemptions …

New U.S. Rules Seen ‘Major Step’ for Drone Industry; Rules on Deliveries Still to Come

The Obama administration is opening U.S. skies to more commercial drones with long-awaited regulations that the government hopes will spawn new businesses inspecting bridges, monitoring crops and taking aerial photography. In the most comprehensive set of rules yet for the …

U.S. Issues Final Commercial Drone Regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized the first operational rules for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems or drones opening pathways towards fully integrating UAS into the nation’s airspace. The rule promises to generate more than $82 billion …

FAA Creates Drone Advisory Panel, Lifts Barrier to Education

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is establishing a broad-based advisory committee to provide advice on key unmanned aircraft integration issues. Also, under a new policy, the agency will also make it easier for students to fly unmanned aircraft as part …

A Wary Drone Industry Awaits Details of Registry

Some drone industry representatives are reacting cautiously to plans by the Obama administration to combat a growing safety threat by requiring buyers to register their drones with the government. The U.S. Transportation Department is creating a task force of public …

Obama Administration Considers Drone Registry

The Obama administration is taking the first steps to require that buyers of drones register the unmanned aircraft with the government to combat a growing safety threat, according to a person familiar with the proposal. The U.S. Transportation Department will …

FAA Hopes to Send Message with $1.9 Million Penalty Against Drone Photographer

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is proposing the largest fine to date against a drone operator as the agency cracks down on the booming use of unmanned aircraft in congested skies over populated areas. The agency said Tuesday it was …

Congress May Move to Slow Illegal Drones

U.S. lawmakers are considering steps to reverse a disturbing rise in illegal drone flights, including new government enforcement tools to crack down on rogue flyers, especially near airports, according to people familiar with the matter. Discussions in the House of …

Increase in Drones Near Airports Prompts Calls for Tighter Regulation

A significant increase in close encounters between passenger aircraft and drones is prompting demands from U.S. lawmakers for tighter regulation and enforcement to avoid a fatal collision. Pilots on four airliners spotted an unmanned craft on Sunday as they approached …