New small drone rules ease concerns about the technology and should increase drone ownership. Flexibility in the rules shows even more of an acceptance of the machines.
Drone Rules Ease Concerns, Should Increase Ownership
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) small drone rules will make it easier to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in August. All Drone Solutions Owner Mark Hull says this will make drone service cheaper for consumers, eliminating having to pay for the cost of a pilot and second person to be involved.
Hull also believes this will increase ownership of drones. “If you asked FAA last month, they would say that a farmer flying a drone to look at his crops is illegal. It’s commercial use,” Hull says. “While we have sold them to those people and they have taken their chances, they now know that it’s much easier and hopefully much faster to get legally approved to fly commercially. I do think you will see an increase in drone sales.”
The rules seem to have shown a slight acceptance of the technology which has eased some concerns. Although there are things the industry would like to change, Hull says the wording in the rules is favorable as the FAA has left some wiggle room. “So far the industry has looked at this as very positive,” Hull says. “There are things we would like to change, but they have openly said that some of these rules can be manipulated for specific people and specific jobs.”
Hull says that flexibility gives the industry a positive outlook on its future. “I work with a firm that is nine months in the queue to get permission to fly near an airport. You just can’t do business that way,” Hull says. “If they do open that up and are more reasonable in those exemptions, then I think it will help a lot of people do better business.”