The U.S. Transportation Department proposed new rules to allow drones to operate beyond the visual line of sight without individual waivers, in a move aimed at accelerating the advancement of commercial drone delivery by companies like Amazon and Starbucks.
Historically, drone pilots have been required to maintain a “visual line of sight” with their aircraft, meaning they must keep the drone in direct view at all times to avoid obstacles without relying solely on the drone's cameras and sensors, unless the operator sought individual waivers or exemptions, which was a bit of a cumbersome process.
The new rules would remove that visual line of sight requirement, but introduce new safety measures that manufacturers, pilots, and traffic-management services would need to follow, hoping to further adoption while still addressing safety concerns. For example, under the proposal, operations would occur at or below 400 feet above ground and from pre-designated locations approved by the FAA for takeoff and landing. There would also be new requirements for traffic-management services to keep drones safely separated from other drones and airplanes.
Honestly, drone delivery taking over the U.S. delivery market is fairly inevitable, as were regulation changes like this. Hopefully, even with the new rules, the industry will collectively continue to put safety and privacy first. Okay, you're right… How about just safety then?