The FAA's long-awaited proposed rules on drones are a positive start, says the Small UAV Coalition, which is comprised of members including Google and Amazon Prime Air and headed by Akin Gump's Michael Drobac, above. Good is the flexible, risk-based framework that's based on UAVs' capabilities, not adapted from existing rules on manned aircraft. One particularly positive point: doing away with requiring experience flying manned aircraft.
The not as good: not allowing drone operations at night, outside the sightline of the operator, above 500 feet, or overhead anyone not directly involved in that operation. We snapped these photos at an SUAV conference at the National Press Club. The FAA's proposed rules don't add new regulation on recreational users—so you're still free to impress your neighbors with your new toy.
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