WSJ: FAA considering beyond-sight drone flights

NEW YORK — The promise of same-day delivery has taken flight again as the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to announce Wednesday an initiative to study drone flights beyond the sight of the operator, The Wall Street Journal reported this morning. 

 

Both Amazon.com and Google reported to The Wall Street Journal that they have noticed the sharp shift in attitude in recent weeks on critical issues regarding drone test flights.

 

To date, the FAA has restricted flights that extend beyond the sight of the operator and suggested earlier this year that the agency would prohibit those flights altogether. 

 

According to the Journal, the drone industry views beyond-sight flights as key to unlocking the commercial potential of drones, enabling everything from pipeline inspections to deliveries.