Have Your Say: Time Is Running Out To Comment On Proposed FAA Rules

In case you didn’t know, the FAA is seeking public input as it weighs up rule change proposals which could enable more advanced operations, including routine drone flights over people and at night.

As well as enabling safe flights over people and at night, the FAA is exploring how to safely prepare for Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM), implement payload restrictions and enable operations beyond visual line of sight.

To date, while almost 1,300 comments have been received about safe and secure drone operations, fewer than 100 comments have been received about flight at night and over people.

DJI Urges Community Engagement

In order for the community’s voice to be heard, DJI is today urging professional drone operators in the United States to submit comments through the FAA’s online portal. The submission deadline is this coming Monday, April 15th.

It goes without saying the community activism is the best way to ensure that the FAA has the insight and opinions it needs to press ahead with these regulatory changes.

“Drone professionals know society has barely tapped the potential of this transformative technology, and we appreciate the FAA’s willingness to listen to the voices of people who use drones every day as they craft these necessary rules,” said Brendan Schulman, DJI Vice President of Policy & Legal Affairs.

“Given how vital these rules are for every professional drone pilot in America, it is surprising to see how few comments have been received. We strongly encourage professional drone operators and fleet operators to read the FAA’s proposals and submit their perspectives on how to ensure drones can handle expanded responsibilities safely.”

How to read the proposals and share your comments with the FAA

For both the NPRM and the ANPRM below, click the link to read through the proposal and then click on ‘Comment Now’ (on the right-hand side) to share your thoughts with the FAA.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for flying small drones over people and at night can be reviewed here. To date, only 58 public comments have been received. DJI will submit its own formal comments and has prepared these observations on important issues in the NPRM. You might want to take a look as you develop your own opinion and comments.

The Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) can be reviewed here and includes possible restrictions on safe and secure drone operation, including standoff distances from drone operations, performance limits for drones, how UTM should operate, payload restrictions and critical system design requirements. To date, no public comments have been received. DJI will submit its own formal comments and has prepared these observations.

“The FAA is asking many good questions about how best to ensure that drones remain a safe addition to the airspace as they are allowed to perform more types of complex operations,” said David Hansell, DJI Public Policy Manager.

“Professional drone operators should seize this opportunity to have a say in the rules that will govern how and whether they can use expanded capabilities to achieve great things with drones.”

We agree! Remember, the deadline for comments isn’t far away: April 15th.