Aug 31 2016
Yesterday, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) new comprehensive regulations went into effect for the routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The provisions of the new rule – formally known as Part 107 – are designed for commercial aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds to minimize risks to people and property on the ground, and to other aircraft.
“During the past four years, the FAA has obligated commercial unmanned aircraft operators in the U.S. to have a 333 Exemption in order to fly legally. This was a time consuming regulatory obstacle but necessary for businesses that were committed to operating professionally,” said Gerald B. Hammack, President and CEO of Valmie Resources. “We are pleased that we did not wait for the Part 107 rules to take effect, and as an early adopter, Valmie was interested in operating as an FAA authorized professional company as quickly as possible. To this end, we sought our 333 Exemption to fly commercially, and received it in February.”
“The domestic UAS industry is still in the fledgling stages. Safety, compliance and professionalism are critical for the U.S. to build a frontrunner position around the globe. The new regulations will create fresh opportunities for American businesses to use unmanned vehicles to grow the economy, advance scientific research, and save lives. Initially there will be a deluge of interest, and while the new 107 process is thought to be much faster than the 333 Exemption route, the sheer volume of applications may take some time to process,” added Hammack.
Source: http://valmie.com/