Attempts to fly drones in civilian airspace are a classic example of an irresistible force (innovation) meeting an immovable object (the law). While commercial innovators have been champing at the bit to deploy drones in all kinds of civilian roles, aviation law has mostly prevented it. Not for much longer. Proposed changes in the US and Europe mean that uncrewed aircraft of all shapes and sizes could go mainstream in the next couple of years, surveying buildings, fertilising fields, sniffing out pollution and more (see page 20).
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