Why is UAV (drone) adoption not rapidly lifting off?

With so many potential applications in such a cost effective package, why isn’t drone use sky-rocketing, asks Matthew Duke-Woolley, a market analyst with Beecham Research?

To put it simply; regulation of the consumer market has a negative impact on the commercial and business uses. Rapid changes to regulation have been required to prevent the use of UAVs from interfering with public safety efforts. And despite these new regulations a consumer still managed to fly their UAV into Heathrow airspace and collide with an Airbus A320 on the 17 April 2016. Earlier this month the airline pilots union called for an investigation into the effect of a collision with a consumer drone and the UK Airprox Board found that there were 23 recorded near misses in the six months prior to this collision.

In the US the FAA authorises the use of unmanned aircraft systems for commercial or business purposes. This is done on a case by case basis. Users of commercial and recreational drones may not be aware that they share airspace with manned aircraft. In rural areas it is not so rare to find low level aircraft used for agriculture, law enforcement, emergency medical services, wildlife surveys and a variety of other services.

So what constitutes a commercial use?

• Selling photos or videos taken from a UAV.
• Using the UAV to provide contract services; such as equipment or location inspection.
• Using the UAV to provide professional services; such as security or communications.
• Professional real estate or wedding photography.
• Professional cinema photography for film or TV.
• Providing contract services for mapping or land surveys.

Understandably, none of these uses should actually require a drone pilot to have a small aircraft pilot’s license. And a UAV operator can apply for exemption from the FAA to operate commercially. But this is still a roadblock to the growth of the UAV industry as users do need to apply for authorisation. This situation is a direct result of some consumer drone operators ignoring the guidelines, and currently they cannot be tracked or held accountable.

The regulations are changing! New efforts to redefine the guidelines for consumer oriented UAVs have been produced. The usage of the UAV is no longer as deeply under scrutiny. The difference will be that UAVs below 4.4 pounds in weight are considered consumer oriented – and therefore will no longer require a pilot’s licence to operate commercially.

Here are the new regulations that affect consumer oriented UAVs;

• Fly below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles.
• Keep the aircraft within visual line of sight at all times.
• Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations.
• Don’t fly within 5 miles of an airport unless you contact the airport and control tower before flying.
• Don’t fly near people or stadiums.
• Don’t fly an aircraft that weighs more than 55lbs (consumer drones are meant to be below 4.4 pounds)
• Don’t be careless or reckless with your UAV – you could be fined for endangerment.

These guidelines do not apply to any non-hobby or non-commercial use.

What does this all mean for commercial operators?

After speaking with a prominent industry figure, Beecham Research has learned that these new regulations don’t solve the problem. Many commercial drone suppliers are worried that inconsiderate drone use by consumers will tighten up restrictions in their market without benefitting public safety. “The consumer market is the one that requires regulation!” They say. The explosion of consumer drone adoption is the reason for the restrictive regulations in the first place. They were implemented to contain the consumer problem rather than the commercial drone users.

Time to think again?