FAA Sets Commercial Drone Operators Free (Sort Of)

Friend or foe? Drones are both — at the same time — depending upon who joins the conversation. Active Junky’s been launching them with great success in Chile and other places to fly with cormorants, cozy up to offshore sea lions and follow surfers paddling out past the break. A new decision limits approvals, which require written exemption, to drones under 55lbs that fly at or below 100 miles an hour. In addition, the operating ceiling’s been dropped from 500ft to 400ft as operator age is reduced from 17 to 16 years of age. While not a soaring victory, drone operators can see some daylight for U.S. airborne missions and photography with this latest ruling.