Drone regulations: tethered by the FAA.

• Author: Shackford, Scott
• Position: Federal Aviation Administration - Citings - Brief article

THE FEDERAL Aviation Administration (FAA) has said it will establish rules for the use of commercial and private drones within the United States. But the agency has been taking its sweet time putting these rules together, and in the meantime has attempted to enforce an existing ban with threats of fines.

The online sales and distribution monolith Amazon is one of the many commercial interests affected by the slow process. The company made a big splash in December 2013 with a public announcement that it was researching the use of drones for quick deliveries. But the FAA has gotten in the way.

Earlier this year, the agency finally released a proposal detailing the hoops that drone pilots would have to jump through, including a requirement that they pass an aeronautical exam every two years and another...