The Federal Aviation Administration’s recent approval of BP’s flights of a commercial unmanned aircraft system (UAS), or drone, over northern Alaska, which began on June 8, is a step toward legalizing commercial UAS flights elsewhere in the nation. Until now, legal commercial use of UAS over land has been restricted to the military, law enforcement and scientists engaged in research and development.
FAA spokesman Les Dorr says the agency is talking to commercial industries “to expand commercial unmanned aircraft use” of small drones now, with an eye to issuing exemptions to existing regulations before new policies are set in place later this year.