Drone Restrictions Could Be Lifted

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Commercial drones could soon really take off, according to files “obtained from a government-sponsored committee,” the Daily Mail reports.

Currently, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bans unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from flying over crowds. This seemingly sensible restriction has the unintended consequences of making delivery drones in urban areas almost impossible to fly.

The Small UAV Coalition is now seeking to alter these restrictions in order to encourage the development of commercial UAV applications in urban environments, according to sources close to the FAA.

“Every TV station in the country wants one, but they can’t be limited to flying in the middle of nowhere because there’s no news in the middle of nowhere,” said Jim Williams, former head of the FAA’s drone office.

Mobile network providers also wish to loosen the restrictions, so they can use UAVs to inspect mobile communication antennae in cities.

The committee’s recommendations call for the creation of four categories for small UAVs that commercial entities can operate in urban areas, over people, and even over crowds in some cases.

The first category would be limited to UAVs weighing less than 230 grammes. These could fly essentially unrestricted. Drones in the second category will weigh between 1.8 kg to 2.3 kg, and could fly over crowds. Drones in the third category would be restricted from flying over crowds or in densely populated areas. Drones is the fourth category “could have sustained flights over crowds.”

“The risks are nominal,” said Michael Drobac, executive director of the Small UAV Coalition. “The reality is the technology would likely save lives rather than threaten them.”

The FAA is not bound by the recommendations.