FAA Issues Drone Rule

Drones can begin flying low over the American skyscape by 2017 under rules proposed Sunday by the Obama administration that will finally allow their legal use for business purposes.
The rules, which still need to go through an extensive public comment phase, apply to smaller drones weighing 55 pounds or less. Such small flyers aren’t likely to share airspace with manned flights.
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“We have tried to be flexible in writing these rules,” FAA Adm

The U.S. aviation regulator proposed rules on Sunday for flying drones for commercial purposes that would lift some restrictions but would still limit activities such as inspections of pipelines that have been eyed by companies as a potentially breakthrough use of the technology.

The long-awaited draft rules from the Federal Aviation Administration governing use of unmanned aircraft require pilots to obtain special pilot certificates, stay away from bystanders and fly only during the day. They limit flying speed to 100 miles per hour (160 kph) and the altitude to 500...