The Federal Aviation Administration has released proposed rules for small drones for commercial use, making the first move, at long last, to start integrating these pilotless, untethered flying machines into American airspace.

The FAA's proposed rules stipulating operational limits, operator certification and aircraft requirements are draft regulations that must still undergo public and federal review before official adoption. They’re not expected to take effect until 2017 at the earliest.

The newly released draft renders obsolete FAA rules — antiquated in the eyes of the drone industry — that require, for example, [drone] operators to be “licensed pilots.”

However, still intact are “see and avoid” principles (drones must always see and avoid manned aircraft; if there is a risk of collision, the UAS operator must be the first to maneuver away) and aircraft registration requirement. Additionally, drones must fly within line of sight of the operator. The stipulation for line-of-sight operation appears to make impractical plans for companies such as Amazon to deliver packages via drones.

Has the FAA gone far enough with these newly proposed rules to encourage drones in the U.S. aviation system? The answer will differ, depending on where one’s position in the drone debate is. Regardless, drone makers now have a framework to work with. Until now, the FAA has simply banned — without a consistent system of enforcement — any use of commercial drones.

Clearly, in some areas, the FAA is willing to make only incremental changes. For example, under existing rules, drones can’t fly higher than 400 feet. The new regulations put the ceiling at 500 feet.

There are already complaints that the FAA’s proposed regulations are likely to slow down the drone market. The federal agency sees it differently, estimating that the new rules will prompt roughly 7,000 businesses to get permits within three years.

What are allowed, what are not
In a nutshell, here’s what the proposed rules allow:

Operational limits
• maximum weight: 55 pounds
• maximum altitude: 500 feet
• maximum speed: 100 mph
• must remain in the line of sight of the operator at all times

Operator requirements
• at least 17 years old
• pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test
• obtain an operating certificate
• pass a recurrent aeronautical knowledge test every 24 months
• be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration

Banned by the draft regulations are night-time flying anddrone flight above 18,000 feet. With special Air Traffic Control clearance, drones can be flown at altitudes between 500 and 18,000 feet, but no exception is allowed above 18,000 feet.

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