FAA considers easing drone restrictions

The FAA is considering relaxing its restrictions on operating drones in crowded or public places following pressure from commercial interests who are pressing for "maximum flexibility and minimum regulatory intervention," according to a drone policy expert. The FAA Administrator said that the agency will scrap weight and speed requirements and "pursue a flexible, performance-based regulatory framework that addresses potential hazards."

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The FAA is mulling a change in proposed regulations for drones, and big tech will have its say.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday a committee to draft recommendations for rules that could ease restrictions on operating drones in crowded or public places. The FAA has invited mostly commercial stakeholders, including Alphabet 's Google X, Intel and GoPro , to the group. The committee will start working on recommendations next month and give a final report to the FAA by April 1, when the agency will review its findings and file a proposal. It comes as business interests have ramped up pressure on the FAA and Congress for wider drone use amid concerns about public safety and privacy.

Brian Krzanich, chief executive officer of Intel Corp., right, shows the collision avoidance feature of an AscTec Firefly drone with Intel RealSense cameras during the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Patrick T. Fallon | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The rule could change how Alphabet and others integrate drones into their businesses. Ultimately, it could allow use of a wider array of drones over public spaces, benefiting not only companies who make drone deliveries but also those who sell the devices to recreational users.

"They want maximum flexibility and minimum regulatory intervention," said David Swindell, director of the Center for Urban Innovation at Arizona State University and a drone policy expert. GoPro — which is launching a drone camera this year — said it would participate to "protect the rights of recreational users and to promote safe and responsible flying." It is unclear whether Google X will accept a spot on the rulemaking committee. In a statement, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said the company is "honored to contribute to the thoughtful work of the FAA." He added that drones' potential "will only be realized if stakeholders come together to address issues of concern to policy makers and consumers."



The committee will give guidance on operating rules for a class of drones that would be able to fly over people who are not controlling them. The FAA wants standards for the aircraft to prevent crashes and potential injuries.

Previously, the FAA proposed that "micro" aircraft under 4.4 pounds would fall into that category, but the agency will consider scrapping size requirements in favor of performance and safety standards. "The FAA will pursue a flexible, performance-based regulatory framework that addresses potential hazards instead of a classification defined primarily by weight and speed," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said in a statement.

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