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The Conversation
The Conversation
Agamemnon Crassidis, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology

Drone use poised to soar as FAA homes in on rule change allowing pilots to fly them out of sight

Companies large and small are gearing up to deliver packages to you via drone. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Today, almost anyone who flies a drone must maintain visual contact with it at all times, a practice known as visual line of sight. This requirement severely restricts how far craft can fly. When the Federal Aviation Administration rule changes allowing people to fly their drones beyond visual line of sight are finalized, commercial use is likely to soar.

Flight beyond visual line of sight will fundamentally change drone operations, allowing for a wide range of applications. Imagine a drone flying well ahead of a train to ensure the tracks are safe, or large drones monitoring and spraying vast farm fields, improving farm efficiency and reducing labor costs.

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