But Stepped Up Enforcement Can Also Be Expected

Newly proposed rules on the use of small, unmanned aircraft could bring peace of mind to farmers, researchers, real estate agents, government agencies and others who have worried they might be breaking the law by flying remote-controlled devices, said Tim Adelman, a veteran aviation attorney and head of a LeClairRyan practice group focused on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Issued by the FAA on Sunday, the proposed rules covering small UAS ... which came a month after the crash of a toy drone on the White House lawn ... would specifically permit UAV-assisted operations such as crop monitoring, bridge inspections, aerial photography and certain search-and-rescue missions.

The rules are welcome news for the UAS industry and its customers, both of which have struggled amid considerable ambiguity on the use of drones in U.S. airspace, said Adelman, a shareholder in the national law firm's Annapolis, MD office. "Regulatory clarity could be a boon to makers and sellers of small UAS, in particular," said Adelman, an instrument-rated, certified flight instructor. "However, as the industry grows we can expect corresponding growth of FAA enforcement actions. UAS operators should take care to avoid running afoul of the FAA."

The long-delayed rules are both thoughtful and practical given the considerable challenge of safely integrating small drones into the national airspace, Adelman added. "The FAA is seeking to answer key questions here such as the types of UAS to be regulated, appropriate operating conditions, required operator certifications, airspace limitations, acceptable uses and more," he said. "This is an important first step toward creating a safe, integrated regulatory framework for UAS in the United States."

Under the proposal, real estate agents and others who have been using hobbyist "drones" to take pictures for their businesses will now be officially regulated. That means manufacturers of small UAS would do well to educate their consumers about the FAA requirements, Adelman noted.

(Image from file)

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