Drone Analyst has just released a study evaluating the results of an industry survey on the impact of FAA rules on small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) in the U.S.
Drone Analyst (Colin Snow) provides industry analysis and survey-based research that focuses on the UAS industry ecosystem, market dynamics, and business economics.
The study, entitled IMPACT OF FAA RULES ON SMALL UAS BUSINESS ($1950 for the complete report and $95 for the summary) conducted over the last two months draws two key insights:
1. Unfavorable rules will disintegrate an already fragile market for sUAS in the U.S.
2. Significant market growth awaits once FAA regulations allow.
“Since 2007, the FAA has attempted to prohibit commercial use of sUAS in the U.S. through a series of statements and policies aimed at controlling activity until actual regulations are put in place. The Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 authorizes the FAA to issue licenses for commercial drone use in the U.S. The FAA modernization law was widely expected to result in tens of thousands of commercial drones being licensed to fly over U.S. airspace. So far, however, it has produced only uncertainty: a combined 71% of participants in the survey say current rules are unclear and indicated confusion around conditions under which it is currently legal to operate sUAS for commercial purposes in the U.S. In fact, when offered 12 possibilities for conditions conducive to legal sUAS operation, the third most-checked condition was “the FAA does not regulate Class G air space.”
This research investigates the potential economic impact of both favorable and unfavorable future regulations, including revenue growth forecasts and hiring plans. Participants clearly identified five types of FAA regulations that would be unfavorable for their businesses, with 61% indicating they would simply not start or shutter their existing business operations if those unfavorable FAA regulations were in place.”