Some 12,000 Received Since New Commercial Drone Rules Took Effect August 29

The number of applications for commercial UAV pilot certificates has climbed to some 12,000 since the FAA's new rules took effect August 29, according to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

The administrator revealed the numbers at the first meeting of the agency's Drone Advisory Committee.

Meanwhile, Earl Lawrence, director of the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office said that more than 4,000 people have passed the aeronautical knowledge test required to become a commercial drone pilot in the test's first month of existence, according to a report from Bloomberg BNA.

All of this has put pressure on the FAA to accelerate its efforts to create rules integrating UAVs into the national airspace, according to the report. But to do that, it is generally agreed that the industry, along with state and local officials and the public, will need to come to a consensus on the top safety priorities.

Huerta said that the agency does not regulate any aircraft for its use, "we regulate it for safety."

And that includes privacy rules, Huerta said. If the committee decides to consider privacy concerns, it will need to determine who should take a lead role in developing those privacy regulations.

FMI: www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/dac