The federal government issued long-awaited rules authorizing businesses to start using small drones, but they don't resolve some of the biggest safety issues: flying them safely over people or beyond the visual sight of designated pilots.

Without approval to operate in such conditions—current prohibitions left untouched by the regulations—industry officials say some of the most promising applications of unmanned aircraft remain years away.

The Federal Aviation Administration decision, as expected, limits approval to drones weighing less than 55 pounds, and operating in daylight under 400 feet. Operations are allowed during twilight only if the drone has anti-collision lights.

The drone's speed must not exceed 100 miles an hour. The new rule takes effect in late August. Reflecting escalating industry frustration over the slow pace of opening airspace for drones, the FAA established a procedure for requesting a wide range of exemptions. Those could involve night operations, extended flights beyond visual range and a single pilot controlling more than one drone.

"Our focus here is to make this as streamlined as possible," said FAA administrator Michael Huerta.

Modest revisions from agency proposals in early 2015 lower the maximum altitude to 400 feet from 500 feet and lower the age limit for operators to 16 from 17.

The response from lawmakers was mostly positive. Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, said the rules are "intended to create certainty and predictability for safe, authorized operations—to protect all users of the airspace as well as those of us on the ground."

"The new rules codify common sense," said Jon Resnick, policy lead for the world's largest drone maker, SZ DJI Technology Co. of China.

Even as drone advocates welcomed the culmination of a drawn-out process establishing the first formal, industrywide safety standards, manufacturers, users and industry consultants said the rules stop far short of what is necessary to exploit the full capabilities of drones.

Experts agree that harnessing them to inspect power lines, highway bridges, railroads tracks and cellphone towers—all relatively dangerous jobs for workers—would offer huge economic benefits.

The FAA's most optimistic internal projection indicates it will take at least another year to publish and implement rules permitting initial small-drone operations over crowds or densely populated areas. Approving infrastructure inspections, particularly at night or in emergencies that can preclude normal pre-takeoff preparations, seem significantly further down the road.

Still, the rules extend further in some ways than people expected. Drone operators are allowed to fly their aircraft above 400 feet to inspect a structure. The drone must remain within 400 feet of the structure at all times if it is exceeds the 400-foot ceiling.

"This opens up a whole area of innovation and use cases that were to this point prohibited," said Michael Drobac, executive director of the Small UAV Coalition, an advocacy group for drone makers and innovators, including Alphabet Inc.'s Google and Amazon.com Inc.

Mr. Drobac also noted that the rules did not prohibit deliveries. "In the near term, it appears they are opening the door to delivery."

"With this new rule, we are taking a careful and deliberate approach that balances the need to deploy this new technology with the FAA's mission to protect public safety," Mr. Huerta said.

For many drone advocates the news highlighted how much more needs to be done before U.S. regulators will endorse widespread flights beyond the limited, low-altitude variety announced Tuesday.

Mr. Huerta acknowledged the work that remains. "This is just our first step," he said. "We're already working on additional rules that will expand the range of operations."

Brian Wynne, chief executive of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, hopes for rules that will allow more complex operations. He warns that without more progress, "we risk stunting the still-nascent industry and restricting the many beneficial uses of this technology."

Marke "Hoot" Gibson, the FAA's senior adviser for drones, has said the current debate reflects the "most fundamental change in aviation in our lifetime."

The tone and specifics of Tuesday's news conference, including comments by senior White House aides, underscored the Obama administration's desire to exert a light regulatory touch to foster innovation.

Earl Lawrence, the FAA's top drone official, has indicated the agency is "relying more and more on industry consensus standards."

Jason Miller, deputy director of the White House's National Economic Council, said the rules are intended "to inspire confidence in such new technology."

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the expected growth of drones "truly has the potential to transform the way we fly."

Write to Andy Pasztor at andy.pasztor@wsj.com and Georgia Wells at Georgia.Wells@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 21, 2016 13:55 ET (17:55 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Fev 2024 até Mar 2024 Click aqui para mais gráficos Alphabet.
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Mar 2023 até Mar 2024 Click aqui para mais gráficos Alphabet.