The popularity of unmanned aircraft and drones is on the rise. Drones are the fastest portion of aviation in the United States with over 871,000 drones and 307,000 certified Remote Pilots having been registered with the FAA since January of 2023. The FAA projects that this number will rise. It’s no surprise that companies have started using unmanned aircraft systems for delivery options, photographs, and even on rescue missions, and people have been flying drones for fun. The FAA and the United States government have taken note of this rise in popularity, and now, both are recognizing unmanned aircraft as revolutionary to the aviation industry.
What is an Unmanned Aircraft and Why Are They So Popular?
Unmanned aircraft are exactly what the phrase says—drones that are piloted by a remote control or an onboard computer instead of a person. People fly drones for both work and recreation and an unmanned aircraft, whether large or small, can be beneficial. The FAA calls drones “the future of aviation”. So why have they become so popular? The fact that they provide simple solutions to most daily needs. And, they’re able to reach remote places easily, places humans can’t reach themselves.
How Unmanned Aircraft Are Being Utilized
Unmanned aircraft are increasing the industries such as agriculture, construction, photography, and even in rescue missions. Drones are being used to deliver medical supplies and packages. Farmers and those in the agricultural industry use drones to monitor crops or crop spraying. They even help provide real-time photos so the farmers can see what is happening in the soil or with the crops themselves. Law enforcement agencies are using them for surveillance and tracking suspects that may have stolen vehicles. Within construction companies, if equipped properly, drones can map out the structure of building sites or conduct real-time surveys. Real estate agents and home inspectors can use drones to get footage of hard-to-reach places in homes or take photos to help sell or conduct the inspection of the home. Drones, no matter in what industry, can help reduce human error with the technology it carries onboard. And these are just a few of the numerous ways drones can be utilized within industries. The possibilities are numerous.
Drones and the FAA
The FAA is working with industries and communities to advance the operations of drones and merge them into the national airspace but also ensure the safety of all involved. Currently, the FAA is looking into petitions where companies are asking for their drones to be allowed to fly in the BVLOS (beyond visual line-of-sight). If granted, this will allow these companies who deliver packages, etc. to do so where drones cannot be seen, but they believe it will have many benefits to fly in that airspace. The FAA is seeking input from the public on this currently, and they expect to have a decision made by Summer.
Back in June of 2022, the FAA had already given the first certification to Zipline, a company based in San Francisco, that allows their drones to fly BVLOS. “Zipline called its service ‘the most complex in the U.S.’ and said it ‘is authorized to fly over people in controlled airspace and beyond visual line of sight.’” (AOPA) The company has since then designed a new drone and is proud to say that more than 40 million miles of commercial deliveries have been made and more than 500,000 commercial flights have been sent out without incident. Multiple food service and health care companies have signed on with Zipline to use their newest program. And they hope to reach 1 million flights by the end of the year, and they hope to continue to test flights and new aircraft.
In March 2023, the FAA granted a special waiver which made Alaska the first frontier for drone research. State officials in Alaska said, “Alaska is now the only state with the ability to allow UAS operations classified as research or development, including aircraft under 300 pounds, to be conducted in our UAS test-site airspace.” (General Aviation News) The waiver allows UAS manufacturers to use Alaska’s airspace for certification. This waiver will help strengthen the drone economy across the United States.
Not only was this waiver granted a few months ago, but at the end of 2022, the FAA granted five universities money to see how drones could assist in natural disasters. Drone research is being done to see how effectively drones can reach and help in a disaster.
The FAA currently has all the say-so over what can and cannot be done with unmanned aircraft. Even the DoD has to answer to the FAA’s rules and regulations on drones while running drills. But, they are making strides in the use of drones to help people and companies utilize this evergrowing branch of aviation.
Drones - The Revolutionary Branch of Aviation
Whether you love them or hate them, drones are taking the world of aviation by storm. And, people are figuring out the best ways to utilize them to make our lives easier and cost-effective. Whether it’s for recreational purposes or business purposes, drones will continue to play a role in our daily lives. For more information on the rules and regulations set forth by the FAA, click this link. And, if you’re interested in checking out what all drones can offer, there will be an FAA Drone Symposium in August and the AAM (Advanced Air Motility) Summit also in August, both Baltimore, MD. And as always, keep an eye on http://www.rebelservices.net/latest-news as we bring you the latest in the aviation industry.
