FAA proposes regulations to allow commercial drone use

 The federal aviation administration has released its long awaited proposed rules on the commercial use of drones.

The new rules would require drones to be less than 55 pounds, they can fly up to 100 miles per hour but no more than 500 feet off the ground.  

They would be restricted near airports and crowds, and would not be allowed to operate at night.  

The operator would have to keep the drone within their line of sight at all times and pass a knowledge test every two years.

Local drone pilot and photographer Mike Ford said the regulations are a dream come true and are reasonable.

As it stands now, the commercial use of drones is almost entirely banned in the U.S. but the FAA's new regulations would change that, allowing people like Ford to fly and make money doing it.

Some estimates say there could be an economic impact of $100 million dollars annually.

 \"We have many, many organizations that want to fly commercially that need this new rule to move forward,\" Brian Wynne, President and CEO, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, told CBS.

Sunday's proposal is not a final rule, it will take at least a year before the regulations are established.

The public will be allowed to weigh in.

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