Key Words: what is a "drone?"

• Drone - a term used to describe unmanned aircraft, in use by the US Military since the 1940's to describe unmanned target planes. Now commonly used to describe any unmanned/remotely-piloted aircraft. While drones can be programmed to fly automatically, they still need operators and technicians to fly and service them.
• UAS - the aircraft, control system, launcher, and any other associated equipment
• SUAS - small unmanned aircraft system (aircraft under 55 lbs.)

Where we are (for more information see www.faa.gov/uas)

• 73,000+ commercial UAS pilots in the U.S (FAA, March 2018)
• 300,000+ UAS pilots needed by 2022 (FAA, March 2018) 
• Most common uses include real estate photography, industrial inspection, and agricultural surveys
• Recreational flight is permitted as long as it doesn't endanger national airspace system (new rules coming soon)

Why use a drone?

• Drones can be used to do anything dull, dirty, dangerous; more safely and efficiently than a manned aircraft
  • Dull - tedious, monotonous, time-consuming
  • Dirty - risk to pilot
  • Dangerous - risk to pilot, aircraft, and people on the ground

• Current industry: mainly SUAS companies, expect growth in USA up to ~$10 billion by 2020
  • Film - TV shows, movies, Super Bowl commercials, X Games, Winter Olympics
  • First responders - search and rescue, accident investigation
  • Aerial photography - make maps and photograph real estate properties
  • Inspection - inspect antenna towers, bridges, construction sites, pipelines
  • Agriculture - track growth of crops and apply seeds and fertilizers
  • Research - collect samples of seawater, air, pollution, patrol wildlife areas
  • Military - used for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)

• Future jobs: larger aircraft, higher altitudes
  • Delivery - deliver packages, medical supplies, water
  • Traffic - monitor traffic flows, highway and railway conditions
  • Ranching - monitor herds, track animal health

 Current Requirements for (Commercial) UAS Operators

• FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, with the following limitations: 
  
  • Aircraft must remain within visual line of sight and stay under 400 feet above ground level
  • No night flights
  • No flights over people
  • No flights near airports with a control tower unless authorized