The FAA may release its long-awaited final rule that would permit commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) this week. FAA published the notice of proposed rulemaking nearly a year and a half ago, and the UAS industry has been keeping up the pressure on FAA to finalize the rule.
While the commercial use of UAS is currently allowed through a limited Section 333 exemption process, the process is cumbersome and takes commercial users a significant amount of time to get approved.
The proposed rule would have restricted UAS operation to daytime hours and up to 500 feet above ground level, among other restrictions. However, the proposed rule received significant criticism from the commercial UAS industry, including because it would limit out of line-of-sight operation.
Both the House and Senate FAA reauthorization bills include significant UAS policy changes, including directing FAA to expand allowable operations and establish a risk-based permitting process.
Source: Lexology