Cannot Reach Consensus On Issues Such As Identification Beacons

The FAA's Drone Advisory Committee is struggling to reach a consensus on how civilian drones should be tracked by the government, delaying the commercial expansion of the use of the aircraft.

Bloomberg Technology reports that among the key issues that are causing concern is which drone models should be required to have radio tracking beacons. Most of the members of the committee would not sign onto the final report submitted to the FAA last week, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The sources, who were not authorized to discuss the report which has not yet been released publicly by the FAA, said that there were many differences of opinion among the group. Hobbyists, law enforcement, and other part of the quickly expanding drone industry took contrary positions, they said.

The disagreement is seen as a setback for the industry. It has put on hold the FAA's plans to release a proposal allowing drone flights over people, which is opposed by law enforcement agencies. In an emailed statement, the FAA said it will "review the advisory committee’s report and its findings carefully."

(Image from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov