FAA rules
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have come a long way over the years. They were initially used mainly for military operations, testing ammo and dropping bombs. The non-tech savvy community still thinks of this type of artillery usage when they hear the word “drone.”
Though this no longer the usual utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, reports of drone crashes and hundreds of damages because malfunctions or mistakes in government flights can make the common public wary of the private sector’s use of drones.
In the last few years, major manufacturers have made drones more accessible to the public. By making them more user-friendly, affordable, and by using smart marketing strategies drones are quickly becoming a household item.
Recently Amazon has expressed interest in delivering packages to their customers via unmanned aerial vehicles, Though this would be a time and money saving innovation, it could be a while for this kind of activity to be government approved.
Many people are not aware that remote controlled airplanes and helicopters are in fact UAVs. Since the overall public opinion is that these toys are generally for benevolent use, they are not frowned upon like today’s modern drones. The latest drones come in a variety of designs including multirotor and multi-copter.
As this square design with multiple propellers has been growing in popularity, so has the technology behind the drone. Researchers are constantly looking for ways to improve their speed, accuracy, and capabilities.
Where the confusion lies
Since again, most of the general public thinks of war when they hear the word “drone”, UAVs are often given a bad rap.
Drones equipped with weapons and surveillance cameras have been around for a long time and are still used today for “drone strikes.”
Though drones can be used for war tactics, that is not their only use. Considering that airplane is used to drop bombs, it’s interesting that they don’t have a similar stigma.
Just like almost every technology on the market, its uses can be both malevolent and benevolent, depending on the user’s intentions.
Media distortion
Since most drones take on a different design than the usual helicopters and airplanes that can be observed in the sky on a daily basis, the drone seems unfamiliar.
Since people generally fear strange appliances, the media is capitalizing on public leeriness. The square design of most drones with its multi rotors looks like something the enemy in a sci-fi movie would use to take down his foes.
News stations seem to be catching on to this discomfort, so they are devoting a lot of air time to villainizing the unmanned aircraft. In essence, they are driving frightful citizens into bolstering their ratings.
Drone operation laws
The Federal Aviation Administration is working to preserve the rights of citizens and provide UAV enthusiasts a guideline to operate the unmanned aerial system with a minimal threat to others.
The two most common concerns when it comes to UAV operations pertain to safety and privacy issues. The FAA has been trying to address both subjects while not hindering the advancement of technology provided by drones.
Within the new laws, drones are able to be piloted with little limitations for recreational use. Pilots must register their drones online before flying them.
They must also not fly them in prohibited airspace like near an airport or military base, and they must not be flown outside their line of sight.
Certification
Put the word “drone” into any search engine and the likely return will be schools offering certification. For now, these drone operator training schools are beneficial but do not currently hold any legal merit.
Drone operator careers
Drones can be of great use in a variety of professions. Because of this, completion of a drone operator course and certification does up the chances of a pilot being hired by the company of their choice.
The average drone pilot makes six figures a year, making a career in piloting very appealing to most unmanned aerial vehicle enthusiasts.
The future of drones
As people begin to be more comfortable with drone operation, the demand for commercial UAVs will increase along with the technology to make them better.
The laws concerning the professional use of drones will likely become more user-friendly. Some experts believe that drones will migrate from being a one-man operation to being computer automated with a human overseer supervising the applications.