Some Good News for the US Drone Industry

By MATTHEW WEISSMAN

These days, it can feel like most drone headlines only focus on restrictions, regulations, or war, but there is positive news coming out of the drone world in the U.S. right now.

One of these is the push for the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) system of operations. The FAA has been working on a framework that could make it easier for commercial pilots to fly beyond the pilot's line of sight. For fields like infrastructure inspection, farming, and crowd control, that would ensure safety for all.

Drone delivery is also expanding, as I have mentioned in some of my other blog entries. While it's still developing, several companies, such as Amazon and Walmart, are proving that drone delivery is a real option, more than just the concepts presented to the public in the early 2010s. The FAA's package delivery information page offers an overview of where things stand today: https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/package_delivery_drone.

Another positive trend is the use of drones by first responders. Police and Firefighters across the country are and have been using drones to locate missing people, monitor emergency scenes, and reduce response times. These programs are showing how drones can provide real benefits to public safety.

Overall, recent trends in drones are on track to greatly improve safety and efficiency, signaling a bright future for drones in the U.S.