Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

UAS Industry Team Leader at Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie Comments on FAA Final Rules for Commercial Drone Operations
  • USA - English


News provided by

Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP

Jun 23, 2016, 00:05 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

The FAA has issued final rules on drone use for commercial purposes.
The FAA has issued final rules on drone use for commercial purposes.

Denver, Colo. (PRWEB) June 23, 2016 -- Commercial drone operators are one step closer to package deliveries, flights to inspect utility and transportation infrastructure, and numerous other applications following release of final rules under Part 107 governing the Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) for commercial purposes.

The final rules will largely replace the cumbersome Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Section 333 Exemption and Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) processes, according to Tom Dougherty, leader of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Industry Team at Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP. The new rules are expected to take effect in late August.

Section 333 previously provided the primary means for obtaining approval for commercial sUAS operations, although previously granted Exemptions will remain valid until they expire, he said.

“Many aspects of the final rules are very similar to the draft rules and operational limitations contained in approved Section 333 Exemptions,” said Dougherty. “There are, however, some noteworthy differences that should make it easier for commercial drone operators in a wide variety of businesses to more rapidly deploy and take advantage of this technology.”

What didn’t change?

Under Part 107, commercial sUAS must still: remain clear of other aircraft and not be operated in a careless or reckless manner; weigh less than 55 lbs. (including attached systems and payload); remain at or below 400 feet above ground level (AGL); fly no faster than 100 mph; operate within certain visibility and cloud clearance requirements; and be subjected to a preflight safety check by the operator. These requirements are substantially the same as what was permitted under Section 333 Exemptions and related COAs, said Dougherty.

“Contrary to many of the comments submitted in connection with the draft rules, Part 107 did not change the requirement that the sUAS be flown within the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the operator. Operations beyond VLOS – a capability integral to a number of commercial sUAS applications such as infrastructure inspection and package deliveries – will have to wait for further technological developments and a future rulemaking,” added Dougherty.

Part 107 also prohibits sUAS operations over persons not directly participating in the sUAS operation, not under a covered structure, or not inside a covered stationary vehicle. “This aspect of the rule is similar to the draft rules and the Section 333 operational limitations, and will continue to be an impediment to commercial sUAS operations in populated areas,” he noted.

What did change?

The final rules do include a number of changes and new provisions that will make commercial sUAS operations easier to conduct, said Dougherty.

Chief among the changes is elimination of the requirement that the sUAS operator have an FAA airman’s certificate (pilot’s license). Given the time and expense associated with obtaining a pilot’s license, this requirement was a barrier to entry for many commercial operators, he explained.

Under Part 107, the sUAS operator must hold a Remote Pilot Airman Certificate with a sUAS rating which can be obtained by passing an FAA-approved initial aeronautical knowledge test, or by holding a current pilot certificate and completing an FAA-approved sUAS online training course.

The initial aeronautical knowledge test will be available through FAA-approved knowledge test centers around the country on the effective date of the final rules, and the online training for current pilots will be available at faasafety.gov.

Other aspects of the final rules that may support expanded commercial sUAS operations include:

• Use of a visual observer is no longer required, but is still advised;
• sUAS operations from a moving vehicle are permitted in sparsely populated areas;
• sUAS operations above 400 feet AGL are permitted if the sUAS remains within a 400 foot radius of a structure and no higher than 400 feet above the structure;
• External load operations are allowed if the load being carried is securely attached and does not adversely affect the flight performance of the sUAS; and
• Intrastate transportation of property for compensation is allowed as long as the sUAS operation otherwise complies with Part 107, but may not be conducted from a moving vehicle.

“The final rules also provide for waivers of many, but not all, operational restrictions if it can be shown that the proposed sUAS operation can be conducted safely,” said Dougherty.

Waivable restrictions include operations from a moving vehicle or aircraft, prohibition on night-time operations, VLOS-only operations, operation of multiple sUAS, flights over persons not participating in the sUAS operation, certain airspace restrictions, and sUAS operating limitations, he said.

Operational restrictions that cannot be waived when transporting property for compensation include the VLOS requirement and the prohibition on operating from a moving vehicle. The FAA announced plans to make available in the coming months an online portal to streamline waiver applications.

“While the final rules do not permit routine beyond VLOS flights and continue to include some restrictions that may affect certain commercial sUAS operations, Part 107 nevertheless represents a substantial improvement over the regulatory burdens and operational restrictions associated with Section 333 Exemptions,” said Dougherty.

“Part 107 brings commercial sUAS operations one step closer to realizing the vision of package deliveries, long-distance flights to inspect utility and transportation infrastructure, and numerous other beneficial applications.

“As FAA Administrator Michael Huerta explained, this is just a first step. Regulators are already working on additional rules that will expand the range of operations.”

About Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP

Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP is an Am Law 200 commercial law firm for handling complex matters in litigation, intellectual property, business transactions, gaming, government relations and other practice areas. Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie offices are located in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, Reno, Silicon Valley and Tucson.

Keith Jones, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP, http://www.lrrc.com/, +1 602-528-4622, [email protected]

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.