Federal rules make it easier to fly drone commercially

The FAA will mail a permanent Remote Pilot Certificate within 120 days.

“Broadly, the new rules change the process of becoming a commercial drone pilot: Instead of having to acquire a traditional pilot’s license and getting a special case-by-case permission from the regulators, drone operators now need to pass a new certification test and abide by various flying restrictions (and, well, be older than 16)”.

Drone use is rising and so is the controversy surrounding them, leading to new FAA regulations, specifically for the use of smaller commercial drones. Once obtained, this permits the operation of UAS/drones for commercial purposes.

Exemptions are only granted if companies can prove they can operate safely.

“These aircraft truly have the potential to transform the way we fly”, said Anthony Foxx, U.S. Transportation Secretary. “The FAA’s role is to set a flexible framework of safety without impeding innovation”, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta said.

According to the FAA’s new rules, formally known as Part 107 (PDF), which govern commercial flights of small unmanned aircraft, all drones being used for business purposes in the US must be registered with the FAA and weigh up to 55 pounds (25 kilograms).

Testing centers nationwide can now administer the Aeronautical Knowledge Test required under Part 107.

While Amazon’s proposed service is unlikely to be green-lighted by the FAA anytime soon, especially if the company wants to take its drones into built-up areas, this recent development is at least a sign that the FAA is willing to seriously examine applications offering new technology-based solutions. The FAA will mail a permanent Remote Pilot Certificate within 120 days.

Also to plan a flight ahead of time.

– Lauren Bunting is a licensed Realtor/Associate Broker with Bunting Realty, Inc.in Berlin.