logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home News Key decisions on drones likely from Congress
    Key decisions on drones likely from Congress
    Nation, News
    December 29, 2014

    Key decisions on drones likely from Congress

    WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is on the verge of proposing long-awaited rules for commercial drone operations in U.S. skies, but key decisions on how much access to grant drones are likely to come from Congress next year.

    Federal Aviation Administration officials have said they want to release proposed rules before the end of this month, but other government and industry officials say they are likely to be delayed until January. Meanwhile, except for a small number of companies that have received FAA exemptions, a ban on commercial drone flights remains in place. Even after rules are proposed, it is likely to be two or three years before regulations become final.

    That’s too long to wait, say drone industry officials. Every year the ban remains in place, the United States loses more than $10 billion in potential economic benefits that drones could provide, according to the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, a trade group.

    “We need some sort of process that allows some of the low-risk operations,” said Jesse Kallman, the head of regulatory affairs for Airware, a drone technology company backed by Google Ventures. “I think Congress understands that, and hopefully they’ll take steps in the coming year to address that.”

    That appears to be what some key lawmakers have in mind. “We in Congress are very interested in UAS,” Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said at a hearing this month, referring to unmanned aerial systems, or drones. “We understand UAS are an exciting technology with the potential to transform parts of our economy. … It is our responsibility to take a close look.”

    One of the committee’s first priorities next year is writing legislation to reauthorize FAA programs and overhaul aviation policy. The bill is expected to include directions from lawmakers on how to integrate drones into the nation’s aviation system. The last reauthorization bill, passed in 2012, directed the agency to integrate drones by Sept. 30, 2015, but it’s clear the FAA will miss that deadline.

    The FAA is expected to propose restricting drones weighing less than 55 pounds to altitudes below 400 feet, forbid nighttime flights and require drones be kept within sight of their operators. Drone operators may also be required to get pilot’s licenses, a possibility already drawing fire from critics who say the skills needed to fly a manned aircraft are different from those needed to operate a drone.

    Shuster indicated he’s concerned that requiring pilot’s licenses might be burdensome and unnecessary. And keeping drones within sight of operators would be too strict and limit their usefulness, he said.

    The reason for keeping drones within line of sight is that they don’t yet have the ability to detect and avoid other aircraft.

    AUVSI, the drone industry trade group, recently hired Mark Aitken, former legislative director to Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., as its government relations manager. LoBiondo is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, which will write the FAA reauthorization bill.

    “We’re really looking at an incremental approach still,” Aitken said. “It’s not something that is going to happen overnight.”

    FAA officials have been working on drone regulations for nearly a decade. The agency twice drafted regulations that were later rejected by the White House or Transportation Department. The FAA has long maintained that unmanned aircraft must meet the same regulations as manned aircraft unless waiving or adjusting those regulations doesn’t create a safety risk. However, FAA officials more recently have begun talking about “risk-based” regulations, giving industry officials hope the agency might propose a blanket exemption from regulations for the smallest drones — usually defined as weighing under 5 pounds — as long as operators follow a few basic safety rules. Canadian authorities recently approved a blanket exemption for very small drones.

    Congress already is getting pushback from private and commercial pilots who worry about possible collisions. The FAA receives reports nearly every day about drones sighted flying near manned aircraft or airports.

    “As a (Boeing) 737 captain, I’ll be damned if myself and 178 other people are taken down by a 12-pound or a 50-pound or a 150-pound piece of metal coming through my windshield,” said Ben Berman at a recent forum hosted by the Air Line Pilots Association. “There are too many near misses occurring every day like this.”

    Mark Baker, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which represents private pilots, said online videos show that “operators are flying near airports, in the clouds and in congested airspace.” He called such actions “reckless” and said they will inevitably lead to a collision.

    FAA regulations permit recreational users to fly small drones as long as they stay at least 5 miles away from an airport, limit flights to less than 400 feet in altitude, keep the aircraft in line of sight and fly only during the daytime.

    Last week, drone industry trade groups teamed up with the FAA and model aircraft hobbyists to launch a safety campaign aimed at amateur drone operations. The campaign includes a website, www.knowbeforeyoufly.com , where operators can find FAA regulations and advice on how to fly safely. The trade groups said they also plan to distribute safety pamphlets at industry events and are working with manufacturers to see that safety information is enclosed inside the package of new drones.

    Retailers say small drones, which are indistinguishable from today’s more sophisticated model aircraft, were popular gifts this Christmas.

    ———

    Follow Joan Lowy on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/AP—Joan—Lowy

    ———

    Online:

    Drone safety campaign: http://www.knowbeforeyoufly.com

    Tags:

    nation news
    JOAN LOWY Associated Press

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    Entertainment Now June 22 – 28, 2025
    Special Section
    Entertainment Now June 22 – 28, 2025
    mkeim@oleantimesherald.com 
    June 20, 2025
    Read More...
    {"bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Adding salt to coffee affects health
    Lifestyles
    Adding salt to coffee affects health
    Adding salt to coffee affects health Dear Heloise: Adding salt to coffee is a well-known way that some people have traditionally reduced its bitterness, but this is a bad idea for several reasons. It may aggravate or cause high blood pressure. It can also cause fluid retention, bloating, weight gain, poor sleep quality, excessive thirst, and so on. This is the take of the Cleveland Clinic and every medical professional I know. Coffees vary in bitterness. I suggest trying other types and not adding any salt. It is possible that a salt substitute will work without the health impacts, but this should be investigated and verified before using it. — Mark J., via email Mark, thanks for writing in! I was told by a coffee expert that refrigerating coffee can make your morning brew taste bitter. I suggest keeping a lid on your coffee and storing it in a cool, dark and dry place such as a pantry. — Heloise SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise@Heloise.com ADDING SALT TO COFFEE CONT'D Dear Heloise: My recommendation to Karel is to stop drinking coffee that she doesn't like. I just saw a class offered at a retirement center on how to manage your salt intake. Most health articles I read caution people about the overuse of salt and its effect on blood pressure, the heart, the kidneys, etc. A 1/2 teaspoon of salt is more than the recommended daily amount, and more than 1 cup of a coffee with this much salt could be hazardous to her health. — William D., in San Antonio HOME ADDRESS Dear Heloise: I love your column and read it every day in the Orange County Register. The following is a hint my friend passed on: I have a plug-in GPS, but this works just as well if you use your cellphone GPS. For my home address, I use the local police station address. So, if anyone stole my car or phone, they would be in for a big surprise if they thought they were going to find out where I live. — Deanne D., in Cypress, California THE RIGHT TO VOTE Dear Heloise: Lynnette K., in Blacksburg, Virginia, said she no longer voted for various reasons. Thank you for your answer to her. Voting is a right and privilege, and it should be taken seriously. It has gotten even more confusing with all the lying that seems to be "the thing" these days. I wonder if Lynnette is someone who can quote sports statistics or knows sports team members but doesn't know who her senator or representative is. I have been voting for 66 years and only missed one primary and zero general elections. — Linda H., in Lincoln, Nebraska Linda, it's actually fun to vote. We recently had an election for our mayor and city council here where I live. I felt that it was my duty to cast a ballot, and I felt good about doing it all day. To all the veterans who have defended our democracy, please know your service to this country does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. — Heloise THE RIGHT TO VOTE CONT'D Dear Heloise: Thank you for the great response to Lynnette K. It is so sad to hear people give up on voting. The other response we dislike hearing is "my vote doesn't matter." I'm a veteran, and when people thank me for my service, I reply "If you want to thank veterans, vote! We served to protect the constitution and our rights." People win elections due to a low voter turnout. — Carin W., via email
    June 20, 2025
    Dear Heloise: Adding salt to coffee is a well-known way that some people have traditionally reduced its bitterness, but this is a bad idea for several...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    ‘Round the Square: ‘Balde’ does not mean hairless
    Round the Square
    ‘Round the Square: ‘Balde’ does not mean hairless
    June 20, 2025
    MORE BIRDS: Have we reached your bird of the month yet? Farmers' Almanac has a list of "birth birds," sort of like birthstones, assigned to each month...
    Read More...
    Divorcee has no desire to walk down the aisle again
    Lifestyles
    Divorcee has no desire to walk down the aisle again
    June 20, 2025
    DEAR ABBY: I am twice divorced and recently celebrated my 61st birthday. I look pretty fantastic, and I'm in great health. My husbands were really gre...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Engines, obstacles and old friends; Penn’s Woods Jeep Jamboree rolls into 28th year
    Local News
    Engines, obstacles and old friends; Penn’s Woods Jeep Jamboree rolls into 28th year
    By SAVANNAH BARR s.barr@bradfordera.com 
    June 19, 2025
    Jeep lovers are getting ready to rev up those engines and explore the beautiful Allegheny Highlands during this year’s 28th annual Penn’s Woods Jeep J...
    Read More...
    {"bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Five to be inducted into NYS Oil Producers’ Association Wall of Fame
    Business, Local News, News
    Five to be inducted into NYS Oil Producers’ Association Wall of Fame
    June 19, 2025
    BOLIVAR, N.Y. — The New York State Oil Producers’ Association will induct five men into its Wall of Fame, located at the Pioneer Oil Museum’s Hahn & S...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA