WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Feb. 18, 2015 – Proposed rules for legal drone use aren’t as stringent as the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) current rules, according to West Palm Beach-based attorney Jonathan Rupprecht.
For now, approval for drone use requires various exemptions and waivers, and a licensed pilot to operate the device. Compliance costs are burdensome, with pilots obliged to undergo a third-class medical exam, procure a private pilot’s license and file a notice to airman before flight.
Rupprecht says that the regulations proposed Sunday make it easier. Drone operators won’t need a medical certificate, can be as young as 17, and do not need a visual observer. However, the formal rulemaking process began in 2009 – and won’t be finalized for at least another couple years, Rupprecht predicts.
During that time, the old rules still apply, and “we don’t even know if the future regulations will resemble these,” he adds.
“Until the final rule is published, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) discourages Realtors from using (drone) photography or video for commercial purposes without an FAA exemption,” says NAR president Chris Polychron.
NAR supports the FAA rules generally because it will allow drone photography use in the real estate industry, but Polychron says it plans to “submit comments to the (FAA) and will continue to work with our members to educate them about the future safe, responsible and legal uses of (drones).”
The proposed rules read here . .
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