Commercial drones slowly taking over the American skies

While commercial use of drones seems inevitable, the specter of airspace regulation has delayed implementation in many cases. For example, current rules in the US require that the drone remain below 500 feet and within sight of its operator, unless the company or individual received an exemption from the rule. In January 2015, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had only issued a dozen such exemptions.

Times have changed quickly, however. According to the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College, as of July 2015, there are now more than 700 companies and individuals with exemptions.

The database compiled by the college paints a picture of a massive increase in the use of drones for commercial purposes. The exempted firms are most common in the film industry, which accounts for 42.5 percent of all companies with an exemption. However, there are now 137 utility companies who have a legal way to use drones for commercial purposes. Construction and real estate firms made up about 30 percent of all exemptions issued in the past few months.

Overall, this is a very encouraging sign for companies and vendors involved in the photographic drone business. While there remain significant restrictions on how companies can use drones and who can use them, the new loosening of the leash is a strong indication that in the US at least, regulators are willing to let companies and individuals try to use drones in a more expansive manner.