The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced from Washington on 15 February that it proposed a framework of regulations that would allow routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in today’s aviation system, while maintaining flexibility to accommodate future technological innovations.

The FAA proposal offers safety rules for small UAS (under 55 pounds or approx. 25kg in weight) conducting non-recreational operations. The rule would limit flights to daylight and visual-line-of-sight operations. It also addresses
height restrictions, operator certification, optional use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking, and operational limits.