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AS IT IS 2015-02-19 US Proposes Rules for Commercial Use of Drones

The Federal Aviation Administration has written rules to govern the use of commercial drones in the United States. The proposed rules were released on Sunday at the same time as a presidential order telling federal agencies how they may use such aircraft. President Barack Obama ordered the agencies to be open with Americans, and to protect their civil liberties.

The rules would permit new uses of drone aircraft weighing less than 25 kilograms, often called “micro-drones.” Businesses could use them to perform such jobs as watching over crops or inspecting bridges or electrical towers.

The rules would require drone operators to be at least 17 years old and pass a written test to get a special pilot certificate. Operators would be permitted to fly drones only during the day. They would be permitted to fly no higher than 152 meters, and no faster than 160 kilometers an hour. In addition, an operator would have to be able to see the unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, while they are operating it.

UAVs would be banned from flying over people or in the area around airports. News organizations would still be barred from taking pictures using drones.

The rules do not permit companies to use drones to carry packages. But as technology changes, the rules could be amended¹. Some businesses have already announced plans to use drones to transport goods or products.

Todd Curtis operates Airsafe.com. He says the proposed rules are a good first step.

“The technology of drones is advancing at such a rapid rate that, even if the FAA tried to the best of its ability to put out regulations very quickly, they would probably be superseded³ by the technology. So having some sort of guidance now, even though it’s not official, will bring some kind of sensibility and some kind of limitations to what commercial people plan to do with drones.”

Mr. Curtis says the use of drones for some projects will replace pilots, because manned aircraft will not be necessary.

Michael Huerta heads the Federal Aviation Administration. He says the FAA will use public education campaigns and fines to enforce the new rules after they have been approved. The federal agency is still writing rules for larger drones. That process could take years.

Micro-drones have become popular in the United States. They are operated by hobbyists -- people who fly drones for the love of it.

Smaller UAVs -- those weighing less than two kilograms -- have few restrictions⁴. They cannot fly any higher than 122 meters, must stay eight kilometers away from airports and must remain in the line-of-sight of the operator.

The FAA rules are designed to balance flight safety with the economic possibilities of drones. But President Obama’s memo⁵ is aimed at protecting the privacy of American citizens. His order requires federal agencies to guard against the abuse of information collected from their drone flights. It also requires examination of agency policies, and openness in making those policies public. And it calls for a partnership⁶ between the government and business in creating guidelines for the commercial use of drones.

The rules are still months or years away from going into effect.

Words in This Story

federal - adj. having to do with a national or central government

aircraft - n. a vehicle that flies

civil liberties - n. the right of people to do or say things that are not illegal without being stopped or interrupted by the government

supersede² - v. to take the place of (someone or something that is old or no longer useful); to replace (someone or something)

1 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

2 supersede   

v.替代；充任

参考例句：

• We must supersede old machines by new ones.我们必须以新机器取代旧机器。
• The use of robots will someday supersede manual labor.机器人的使用有一天会取代人力。

3 superseded   

[医]被代替的，废弃的

参考例句：

• The theory has been superseded by more recent research. 这一理论已为新近的研究所取代。
• The use of machinery has superseded manual labour. 机器的使用已经取代了手工劳动。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 memo   

n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章

参考例句：

• Do you want me to send the memo out?您要我把这份备忘录分发出去吗？
• Can you type a memo for me?您能帮我打一份备忘录吗？

6 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。