{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/faa-rules-to-clear-way-for-routine-commercial-drone-flights", "FAA rules to clear way for routine commercial drone flights", "2016-09-19", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Routine use of small drones by real estate agents, farmers, filmmakers and countless other commercial operators was cleared for takeoff by the Obama administration Tuesday, after years of struggling to write rules that would both protect public safety and free the benefits of a new technology.\nThe Federal Aviation Administration announced the creation of a new category of aviation rules designed specifically for drones weighing less than 55 pounds. The long-anticipated rules mean commercial operators can fly drones without special permission.\nIndustry and government officials describe commercial drones as the biggest game-changing technology in aviation since the advent of the jet engine.\n\u201cThis is a watershed moment in how advanced technology can improve lives,\u201d said Brendan Schulman, a vice president at DJI, the world\u2019s largest civilian drone-maker.\n\u00a0\nJason Miller, an Obama economic adviser, said the rules are the first step toward full integration of drones in the national airspace system.\nUntil now, commercial operators have had to apply for a waiver from rules that govern manned aircraft, a process that can be time-consuming and expensive.\nSince 2014 the FAA has granted more than 6,100 waivers and another 7,600 are waiting for approval. Many more small companies have been using drones without FAA permission, say industry officials.\nUnless those operators make a serious mistake that brings them to the FAA\u2019s attention, there\u2019s not a lot the agency can do to track them down. The new rules would provide an easier way for those businesses to operate legally.\nThe rules also would effectively lift the lid on flights by other potential operators who have held off using the technology \u2014 ranchers who want to count cattle, filmmakers who want to employ aerial photography, research scientists, companies that inspect infrastructure like bridges, oil platforms and smokestacks, to name a few.\nUnder the new rules, operators would register their drones online, pass an aviation knowledge exam for drone pilots at an FAA-approved testing center and then they\u2019re approved. That\u2019s a big change since operators currently have to have a manned aircraft pilot\u2019s license.\nThe rules permit commercial transport of goods by drones for the first time, but the other restrictions on flights beyond sight of the operator and over people still apply.\nOther important limitations also remain in place. Drone flights will be permitted only during the day and at twilight. Drone industry officials have long complained that restricting drone flights to daytime precluded a great many uses like some search and rescue operations, agricultural operations best done after dark and roof inspections of commercial building roofs that use heat sensors.\nOperators could still seek waivers to restrictions like nighttime flights, flights beyond sight of the operator and flights over people.\n\u00a0\nThe rules still prevent delivery drones from flying across cities and suburbs clasping small packages. Amazon and Google announced two years ago that they are working on drone delivery systems for goods purchased online, and Google officials have said they expect deliveries to begin sometime in 2017.\nFAA Administrator Michael Huerta said the agency is researching how drone deliveries might safely be accomplished, but he declined to set a timetable for such rules.\nWhat\u2019s missing from the rules is an enforcement mechanism, said Sarah Kreps, a Cornell University professor. \u201cIt is hard to see how the (FAA) actually can ensure that these rules are followed,\u201d she said.\nCongress has been prodding the FAA for more than a decade to write rules to enable broad access to the national airspace by civilian drones. Initially, the agency put its emphasis on finding ways to enable larger drones like those used for military missions to safely fly at the same altitudes as airliners and other manned aircraft. After several years, the agency shifted its focus to small drones when it became clear that the market for their uses was developing much faster.\nBut the FAA\u2019s slow pace led frustrated lawmakers to include a provision in a major aviation bill four years ago setting deadlines for the agency to issue regulations to integrate safely small drones into the national airspace by August 2014 and other drones by September 2015.\nThe new rules fulfill that first deadline. The agency is also working on an array of other safety rules and standards to further broaden the circumstances under which drones can be flown. In April, FAA officials said they are working on regulations that would permit some commercial drones to fly over people and crowds based on recommendations from an industry advisory committee.\nThe flexible revisions and clarification of provisions will put U.S. companies on the global market, said Chris Walach, director for the FAA-designated Nevada Unmanned Aviation Test Site and director of technical operations for the Nevada Institute of Autonomous Systems.\n\u201cIt\u2019s going to help the commercial UAS companies better execute their missions and be more competitive,\u201d Walach said. \u201cThis allows them to be more competitive and actually go after those jobs they weren\u2019t able to go after before.\u201d\nHe said the 624-page document relaxes and clarifies provisions for unmanned aviation systems. At the Nevada test site, one of six across the country, he said they\u2019ll be able to take companies and vendors closer to the next level of integrating drones into national airspace.\n\u201cNo doubt there is going to be some adjustments we\u2019re going to have to make as a test site for implementation for the (Part) 107,\u201d he said, referring to the document, but: \u201cI see those adjustments as being very positive.\u201d\nU.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., serves on the House of Representatives Aviation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FAA. She said in a statement that she\u2019ll work with manufacturers, operators, developers and regulatory agencies to progress commercial use of unmanned aviation systems.\n\u201cThis rule is a significant step forward for an industry that has the potential to transform our economy in Nevada and nationwide,\u201d she said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/faa-rules-to-clear-way-for-routine-commercial-drone-flights"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9818808175623417, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}