Expanding Drone Use

Since drones first took to the skies, regulations have tightly controlled their flight. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) visual line of sight (VLOS) rule means that drone operators must be able to see their aircraft at all times unless they have gone through a lengthy waiver process.

To remove barriers to industry growth, the federal government has directed the FAA to develop new rules regulating drone flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), though the September 2024 deadline has come and gone, and it has yet to do so. This could mean big growth in drone delivery services, which a growing number of cities are permitting, and more drone use by police departments.

As the likelihood of more drones in the sky increases, planners should be aware of local and federal regulations, understand the implications of drone expansion on communities, and consider adding drones to their planning toolkit.