FAA finalizes small UAS rule, earns enthusiastic support from AIA

摘要

The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized operational rules for use of small drones in U.S. skies -- a move that has been enthusiastically supported by the Aerospace Industries Association. On Tuesday, FAA finalized the first operational rules "for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems ... opening pathways towards fully integrating UAS into the nation's airspace," according to an FAA release. The rules, applying to systems weighing less than 55 pounds "that are conducting non-hobbyist operations," will take effect in August, according to the release. In an aim to reduce risks to aircraft in the sky and people on the ground, the rule requires pilots to keep their systems within a visual line of site. It also prohibits flights over unprotected people on the ground not involved in the UAS operations, according to the FAA release.