The US government is torn between a desire to please taxpayers and comply with the formalities to ensure public safety when it comes to the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles. Giant Amazon e-commerce has long advocated for the early legalization of light commercial flights of unmanned aerial vehicles, capable of delivering small loads over short distances in a few minutes after placing the order.
However, the reality is such that even private owners drones weighing up to 25 kg need to pass a paid registration of their aircraft and their further exploitation is associated with weight restrictions. It is not allowed, for example, to flight drones over crowded places, the operator must always have visual contact with the aircraft controlled by them, and also its limitations are imposed on the range of allowed heights.
According to the publication heise.de, US lawmakers are trying to accelerate the adoption of amendments to the existing aircraft operation rules to allow commercial exploitation of unmanned cargo delivery from 2018. It is expected that some concessions will be made - for example, the requirement for constant visual contact between the UAV and the operator will be excluded will be granted permission to "UAVs" at night.
From the operators will continue to be required to take a qualifying examination, and the company operating the UAV couriers will have to license their activities.