Photonic Sensor Consortium Market Survey Report


Market Studies

Photonic Sensor Consortium Market Survey Report

Impact of FAA Rules on Small UAS Business
Published: July 2014

Overview | TOC

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Overview

The research examines the economic impact of current FAA policies for small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) operating in Class G uncontrolled airspace and evaluates how commercial service providers and operators perceive those rules and assess their importance.


Since 2007, the FAA has essentially banned commercial use of sUAS in the U.S. through a series of statements and policies aimed at controlling activity until actual regulations are put in place. The Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 authorizes the FAA to issue licenses for commercial drone use in the U.S. The FAA modernization law was widely expected to result in tens of thousands of commercial drones being licensed to fly over U.S. airspace. So far, however, it has produced only uncertainty: a combined 71% of participants in the survey say current rules are unclear and indicated confusion around conditions under which it is currently legal to operate sUAS for commercial purposes in the U.S. In fact, when offered 12 possibilities for conditions conducive to legal sUAS operation, the third most-checked condition was “the FAA does not regulate Class G air space.”


This study answers the following key questions:
1. How clear are service providers on current FAA regulations regarding the use and operations of small UAS for commercial purposes in U.S. Class G airspace?
2. To what extent do current rules create barriers for small business?
3. What is the economic outlook for providers given either favorable or unfavorable rules in the future?


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ABOUT THIS STUDY

  • Methodology
  • Demographics

EIGHT KEY INSIGHTS

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • To FAA
  • To Manufacturers and Operators

DETAILED FINDINGS

  • Service Offering Variety
  • Length of Service
  • Readiness to Offer Services
  • Revenue from U.S. Operations
  • Employment of Insurance
  • Comprehension and Clarity of Current FAA Policies
  • Favorable Regulations
  • Business Growth under Favorable Regulations
  • Regulations Considered Unfavorable for Business

ABOUT DRONE ANALYST

APPENDIX: QUESTIONS

List of Figures

Figure 1 – QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS BY GLOBAL REGION

Figure 2 – TITLE OR ROLE

Figure 3 – PRIMARY SERVICE OR PRODUCT

Figure 4 – LENGTH OF SERVICE

Figure 5 – TIME TO BEGIN SERVICE

Figure 6 – REVENUE FROM CURRENT SERVICES

Figure 7 – COMMERCIAL INSURANCE USE

Figure 8 – CLARITY OVER CURRENT RULES

Figure 9 – FAA RULE COMPREHENSION

Figure 10 – FAVORABLE FAA REGULATIONS

Figure 11 – BUSINESS STARTS UNDER FAVORABLE RULES

Figure 12 – HIRING TENDENCIES IN THE NEXT YEAR UNDER FAVORABLE RULES

Figure 13 – PROJECTED REVENUE GROWTH UNDER FAVORABLE RULES

Figure 14 – UNFAVORABLE REGULATIONS

Figure 15 – BUSINESS IMPACT OF UNFAVORABLE RULES



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