On August 29, the first set of detailed regulations regarding the usage of drones by private businesses went into effect throughout the United States. The new rules explicitly ban nighttime operations and require any and all operators to attain a license to engage in drone delivery. Furthermore, they also provided a simple framework that only pertains to unmanned aerial vehicles of 55 pounds or less; heavier ones are not yet included.
Earlier this year, The Federal Aviation Administration also drew up a series of guidelines for separate, individual drone usage but Congress has so far blocked any tough or stringent measures proposed on casual hobbyists. For the FAA, the ramifications of drone ownership have been their chief focus for the past two years; In the words of senior official Terry Biggio, integrating these new vehicles into the public airspace is, "certainly the number one issue at headquarters currently." Two senior-level offices have now been created to deal exclusively with drone policy in the coming years.
The controversial debate over drones in the private sector has been growing in correlation with their increasing prevalence. In the United States alone, it is expected that millions of businesses will begin using delivery drones. Specifically, companies such as Amazon
The usage of drones has benefited the public sector as well. They are excellent tools to inspect bridges, clean buildings, record footage national parks (and other aerial photography), and otherwise perform tasks that would require a large amount of manpower and resources. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, perhaps hyperbolically, called the drone revolution, "the Wright Brothers moment of our time."
The complaints and concerns against drones are varied. In particular, a major one has focused on that of privacy, or rather the demolition of it. With everyone having their own roto-copter, befit with cameras or a whole host of modifications, the implications for social rights are murky and complicated. To add to the confusion, the sudden proliferation of drone usage has left aviation officials flummoxed. Are they tools or are they toys? How should they be treated by authorities?
These new rules are the first step in integrating a new trend into the public sphere. (One of them specifically states that the drone must be within full view of an operator at all times.) But these regulations are not enough to convince detractors or solve the issue entirely. The technology is progressing faster than government agencies can keep up with it.
Safety is the primary concern at hand, and to that end, the regulations have placed guidelines for the operation of these drones. But don't expect them to disappear. While trucking is still the number one and preferred mode of transportation, the easy access of efficient and affordable airborne delivery may prove to be a worthy competitor.
