With tens of thousands of new drones expected to be unwrapped as Christmas gifts this week, the FAA on Monday launched a new safety campaign that it hopes will help new users to fly “safely and responsibly.” The campaign comprises a new website, KnowBeforeYouFly.org, and a “digital and social media strategy” to help spread the information. Educational pamphlets also have been developed, and Michael Toscano, president of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, said these materials will be distributed to manufacturers “in the coming weeks” so they can be included with drone packaging at the point of sale.
The new website informs drone users that they should confine their operations to less than 400 feet AGL, maintain visual contact with their aircraft, and contact the airport or control tower before flying within five miles of an airport. The website also spells out what activities are considered to be “commercial use” requiring FAA authorization, including real-estate photography and mapping projects. Meanwhile, a new proposed FAA rule that will spell out the parameters for commercial drone use is still in the works. During the news conference Monday morning, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta dodged a question about when that new rule will be released, answering that, “It’s a very complicated rule… we’re very focused on getting it out as quickly as we can.” The lack of clear rules has caused angst in the industry, which is eager to grow.
