FAA Proposes Rules for Drones

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just published its long-awaited proposed rules for the operation of commercial drones.  The need for some standardized regulation of drones used outside of the military--for photography, crop inspection, and other commercial uses, as well as for recreation--became all too clear in late January when a hobbyist's toy quadcopter crashed down on the White House lawn.

A recent Mashable article provides a brief overview of the scope and major implications of the proposed rules. The FAA website has some helpful documents, including a rule summary, and for those who want to explore drone regulation in more detail, the full text of the proposed rules for "Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems" to be published in the Federal Register. Privacy concerns related to the use and development of commercial drones are not addressed in the proposed regulations, but requirements for federal agencies to comply with current privacy and civil liberties laws are outlined in a recent Presidential memorandum and executive order. 

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Aviation Law Prof Blog

Recent airline disasters underscore the increasing importance of aviation law in understanding and coping with the realities of life and the law in international perspective.  If you want to learn more and keep up with international aviation law issues and developments, along with news and commentary, take a look at Aviation Law Prof Blog. This blog at the intersection of aviation and international law is maintained by scholar experts in the field from DePaul University College of Law's International Aviation Law Institute and  is a member of the Law Professor Blogs Network.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat