Some Fear Anti-Regulation Policies May Stymie Growth Of Drone Businesses

President Donald Trump's executive order requiring agencies to eliminate two regulations for each new regulation created has sent a few ripples of concern through some segments of the drone industry.

Writing in The Hill, Lisa Ellman, chair of the UAS Group for the law firm Hogan Lovells, says the industry needs regulations to facilitate safe flights beyond the scope of the current rules. The freeze on regulations could stunt the growth of the industry, and leave American companies on the sidelines of the multi-billion-dollar industry, she says.

The FAA has projected that there will be 11 million commercial drones sold in the U.S. by 2020. The growth of the industry relies on the assumption that U.S. policymaking keeps pace with the technology.

To take advantage of the full potential of drones, operators need to be able to fly them over people and beyond visual line of sight. They need to be able to fly at night, and safely deliver cargo autonomously.

The current regulations allow for none of that. Ellman says that new regulations can help eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and allow the industry to move forward.

(Image from file)

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