By: Rebekah Sherry & Randall Waszynski
Changes to FAA regulations effective since August 29 are making it easier for businesses and organizations in and around Long Island to operate drones legally.
The laws clarify that pilots must be at least 16 years old, drones cannot weigh more than 55 pounds and cannot fly higher than 400 feet.
“It requires more training before people buy them,” Christopher Regina, a Long Island drone owner, said. “If a business could rent one first to try and use it in that capacity before they buy it, that would be good because they’re quite costly and complicated.”
Waiting for the FAA’s legislation to go through, the Bridgeport Fire Department in Connecticut is ready to start its test phase for implementing drones as a measure of post-analysis. Keith Muratori, a firefighter with the department, has captured several emergency fire situations with his own drone and says that the test required by the FAA to become a commercial/emergency service drone pilot is difficult.
“It is a pretty intensive test covering a lot of aeronautical information. You will not pass this test without studying.” Muratori said
Fire departments across Long Island, like the Setauket fire district, have expressed interest in incorporating drones, but the cost combined with regulatory requirements and proper training of a remote pilot outweigh the pros in most cases.
“The conversation is being raised in different departments, but the initiative is clearly in its infancy stages,” Setauket Assistant Chief, Scott Gressin said.
But fire departments aren’t the only users who will be regulated by the new law.
Two years ago the owner of Davis Peach Farm, Christine Davis, bought a drone on Amazon for $600 hoping to use it for security on the farm. Her son, Peter Diaz, stopped her before she could get it into the air after he did some research on commercial drone use.
“If you wanted to goof off with a drone that was fine, as long as you didn’t do it near an airport, but if you wanted to use it to make money in your business you would have to contact the FAA and get explicit information,” Diaz said.
Since then rules concerning commercial drone use have changed and paperwork to register a drone isn’t as time consuming or complicated.
Owner of the Miller Place Inn, Regina sees a lot of potential for drones in the future.
“It’s gonna be a big thing for business and more business will be created from drones,” Regina said
Regina bought a $1,700 drone to take pictures of his banquet hall. While he is happy with the results, he advises business owners to rent a drone before buying because they are costly and complicated.
Another occupational use for drones, like the banquet hall, is the package delivery business. By partnering with drone-making companies, like Zipline and CyPhy Works, United Parcel Service continues to make strides toward integrating them into its system, adding hard-to-reach places to their list of feasible delivery locations.
“The purpose of integrating drones was for the delivery of urgently needed medical products,” Glenn Zaccara, the director of corporate public relations for UPS, said. United Parcel Service
The test phase began for the company Sept. 23 with a successful three-mile trip over water to Children’s Island in Massachusetts. It is unknown when the test phase will be completed.
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Randall Waszynski 