Panel Says FAA Should Expand Commercial Drone Flights

A federally commissioned panel has recommended that commercially operated small drones be allowed to fly over populated areas, a proposal that would clear the way for dozens of uses, including package delivery service being considered by several companies.

Drones would be required to fly at least 20 feet above people and never come within 10 feet of them if approaching from a lateral direction.

To date, the Federal Aviation Administration has banned routine commercial drone flights over people who are not a party to the drone’s operations. The FAA is not bound to follow the recommendations of the panel that it created, a coalition of stakeholders that includes drone manufacturers, firms that fly them, commercial and private pilots, and airports.

In addition to those who want to provide package delivery, the FAA prohibition on commercial overflights of people has frustrated construction firms that want to monitor their work sites, news organizations eager to use them for news coverage and companies that would use them to inspect things like cellular towers before sending workers up to repair them.

The FAA’s caution in restricting drone use grew from fears they would invade privacy or pose a risk to airplanes in flight. Pilots reported hundreds of close calls with drones last year.

The recommendations obtained by The Associated Press in advance of their release Wednesday after noon show that panel proposes dividing drones allowed to fly over people into four categories.

Those that weight about half a pound or less would be permitted to fly over people without restriction if their manufacturer certified that there would be no more than a 1 percent chance that serious injury would result if they hit someone.

Three types of heavier drones would be required to fly at least 20 feet above people or keep a lateral distance of at least 10 feet.

Among the companies considering package delivery service by drone is Amazon. The company’s chief executive Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post.