The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed new rules for drone flights, allowing for expanded use of drones in the National Airspace System (NAS). These new rules are designed to increase the safety of drone operations and provide more flexibility to drone pilots.
One of the most significant changes in the new rules is the drone's ability to fly over people at night without a waiver. Currently, drone operators are required to obtain a waiver from the FAA to fly over people or at night, which can be a lengthy and difficult process. The proposed new rules would eliminate this requirement, provided that the drone operator complies with certain safety requirements.
Under the proposed rules, drone operators would be required to have their drones equipped with anti-collision lights and to pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test. Additionally, the drones themselves would have to meet certain safety standards, such as the ability to avoid other aircraft automatically.
The proposed rules would also create a new category of drones called "Limited Remote Identification". These drones would be allowed to fly over people at night but limited to a maximum weight of 0.55 pounds and a maximum airspeed of 30 knots. They would also be required to broadcast their location and identification information to local law enforcement.
Overall, the proposed new rules are aimed at increasing the safety of drone operations while providing more flexibility to drone pilots. The FAA is expected to finalize the rules later this year, and they will come into effect shortly after that.
