The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) new rules regulating the commercial use of small, unmanned aircraft systems, or drones went into effect on Monday.
The new rules on commercial drones largely make it easier for companies to use the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), mainly because it frees them from having to request special permission from the federal government for any commercial drone endeavor — a waiver process that often took months.
The new commercial drone rules list the steps operators must take in order to legally operate UAVs in the United States. ITWatchIT covered it extensively here.
Before the new rules kicked in, prospective operators needed a pilot’s license to fly a commercial drone.
Under the new rules, people over the age of 16 can take an aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved facility and pass a background check to qualify for a remote pilot certificate.
