MOSCOW, November 24 (Sputnik) — US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to require drone operators to have a special license and carry out flights in daylight hours and below 400 feet, The Wall Street Journal has reported.
The newspaper cited people familiar with the rule-making process saying that although the FAA is willing to open the skies to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with commercial purpose, the rules on the UAV operation could be more restrictive than drone advocates hope for.
The aviation authority also intends to come forth with one set of rules for all drones under 55 pounds. In regard to the pilot licenses, those might require dozens of hours of flying UAVs.
The FAA is expected to release the proposed set of rules on drone operation by the end of the year, and it will take at least a year before that regulation becomes final.
Large US companies, such as Google, Amazon and Domino's Pizza, have shown their interest in using drones for their services, but the regulators are worried about privacy concerns connected with the technology.
Drones are currently being used in policing, firefighting, pipeline checks, and for the military purposes. If the FAA allows commercial drone flights in the United States, UAVs could create estimated 100,000 jobs and $82 billion in economic impact in the first 10 years, according to the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.
