FAA proposes rules for use of commercial drones

Federal officials unveiled new proposed rules Sunday for the operation of small commercial drones, opening the skies to greater use of unmanned aircraft to perform tasks including inspecting bridges, assisting in search-and-rescue operations, taking aerial photos of real estate and shooting scenes for movies and television.

In announcing the proposal, Federal Aviation Administration chief Michael Huerta said he expects commercial drones will “dramatically change the way we use our nation’s airspace.”

Huerta, in a conference call with reporters, said drones — formally known as unmanned aircraft systems — will in some cases be able to perform tasks with less risk than manned aircraft, which he noted may be forced to fly in dangerous terrain or bad weather.

The proposed rules would apply to drones that weigh 55 pounds or less and are conducting non-recreational operations.

Such flights would be limited to daylight, to altitudes of 500 feet and to speeds of 100 mph. The maximum altitude is intended to keep drones away from manned flights that usually are flying at higher altitudes, Huerta said.

Drones would not be permitted to fly over people, except those directly involved with the flight. Nor could they be flown near airports, or in restricted airspace, unless air traffic controllers gave permission, Huerta said.

“Safety is always our No. 1 priority,” he said.

The FAA authorized testing of drones at six sites around the country in December 2013 and is working to integrate drones in the national airspace.

Huerta described a host of tasks drones could perform, including inspecting utility towers, antennae, power line and pipelines, especially in hilly or mountainous terrain, and monitoring crops, supporting wildlife conservation and assisting news-gathering organizations.

Importantly, though, the proposed rules would prohibit drone operators from delivering packages or cargo for a fee and from dropping objects from drones, though the aircraft could carry cargo for research and development purposes.

Official said the rules are intended to minimize risk to other aircraft and people and property on the ground.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, whose department oversees the FAA, applauded the new rules. “Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace and this milestone allows federal regulations and the use of our national airspace to evolve to safely accommodate innovation,” he said in a statement.

The operation of drones would be limited to visual line-of-sight operations. The rules would allow, but not require, a drone operator to work with someone who would maintain constant visual contact with the aircraft. The operator would otherwise need to be able to see the drone with unaided vision, except for glasses.

Under the proposed rules, a person flying a small drone would have to be at least 17 years old, pass an aeronautical knowledge test and obtain an FAA certificate. The knowledge test would be required every two years.

The operator, however, would not need a private pilot’s license nor be required to undergo medical testing as pilots do.

Huerta said there would be no limit to the number of flights that could be conducted in a day.

The new rules would not apply to model aircraft, which officials said have their own set of rules. The FAA also is considering whether it should create separate rules for unmanned aerial systems weighing less than 4.4 pounds, Huerta said.

The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rules.

An industry group, the Assn. for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, welcomed the proposed rules but said they were “long overdue.”

Technology “has largely remained grounded while many prospective users wait for the regulatory framework to catch up,” said Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the group, a nonprofit that advances unmanned systems and robots.

The Arlington, Va., group said it has more than 7,500 members who work in the defense, civil and commercial markets.

The White House also addressed drones Sunday in a presidential memo about safeguarding privacy, civil rights and civil liberties protections with respect to the federal government’s use of drones in the national airspace. The White House said it will work with stakeholders to develop similar standards for private and commercial drone use.

Last month, a small drone crashed into the White House lawn, prompting a lockdown. The president was out of the country at the time.

Twitter: @KatherineSkiba