U.S: Conflict Over Civilian UAV Use

U.S: Conflict Over Civilian UAV Use

צילום אילוסטרציה (123rf)

This post is also available in: heעברית (Hebrew)

Operators of small, unmanned aircraft cheered a judge’s ruling last week that came down in favor of the remote-controlled lightweight planes

Illustration photo (123rf)
Illustration photo (123rf)

But the celebration of the closely watched case was short-lived as the Federal Aviation Administration appealed the ruling. That action, a day later on Friday, preserved the status quo and left commercial operators of unmanned aircraft still legally grounded.

According to sUAS, The FAA in late February and early March issued statements to debunk myths about its UAV regulations and update its forecast of commercial use of UAVs. The agency, three years ago, expected 30,000 UAVs by 2030 but has lowered that figure to 7,500 by 2020.

Congress has ordered the FAA to set new UAV rules by September 2015 but many observers expect the agency will not meet its deadline.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Currently operators of small UAVs or radio-controlled model planes flying below 400 feet can do so only for non-commercial uses, according to FAA operating standards spelled out in a 1981.

That was decades before UAV operators saw the potential for aerial photography, crop-dusting and dozens of other commercial uses already permitted around the globe.

UAV operators, including real-estate photographers in the Valley, have defied the FAA rules. It’s unclear how long a ruling on the appeal could take. But any delay increases the risk that a UAV operator, uncertain about the regulations, causes a tragic accident, said Jost of Fennemore Craig Jones Vargas in Las Vegas.