WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal officials say they will allow operators to fly over small drones over people and at night, which could boost commercial use of the machines.
Most drones will need to be equipped so that law enforcement officers can remotely identify them.
The final rules announced Monday by the Federal Aviation Administration “bring us closer to the day when we will more routinely see drone operations such as package delivery,” said Stephen Dickson, FAA administrator.
Drones are the fastest growing segment of all transportation, with more than 1.7 million registered, according to the Department of Transportation.
However, widespread commercial use of the machines has developed much more slowly than many proponents expected. Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos once predicted that his company would use drones to deliver goods to customers ’doors within five years, but that prediction is already off in two years..
There have been several tests and limited uses. United Parcel Service said last year it received approval to operate a national fleet of drones and has already made hundreds of deliveries on a North Carolina hospital campus.
Also last year, Google’s sister company, Wing Aviation, obtained FAA approval for commercial drone flights. in a corner of Virginia.
And last August, Amazon got similar FAA approval to deliver packages using drones. The company is still testing the service and has not said when buyers will see the deliveries.
For supporters of drones impatient with the pace of adoption, regulatory hurdles are a major complaint. Currently, operators who want to fly over a drone over people or at night need a waiver from the FAA.
The new rules will require that drones used at night include flashing lights that can be seen up to three miles away. Operators will need special training. Small drones that fly over people cannot have rotating parts capable of cutting the skin.
The rules covering flights over people and at night will come into force in about two months. Proposed standards published last year are finalized.
All unmanned aircraft that must be registered with the FAA must have equipment that issues their identification, location and control station or that is operated in FAA-recognized areas. The so-called remote identification was a requirement imposed by Congress at the behest of national and police security agencies.
Drone manufacturers will have 18 months to start making remotely identified drones and operators will have a year later to start using remotely identified drones.