So finally the FAA has released its take on how to regulate the commercial use of drones or unmanned aircraft on USA territory. It's mostly good news although, some companies (like Amazon) will not be too happy. The gist of the rules are as follows (copied from here ): Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 lbs. (25 kg). Visual line-of-sight (VLOS) only; the unmanned aircraft must remain within VLOS of the operator or visual observer. At all times the small unmanned aircraft must remain close enough to the operator for the operator to be capable of seeing the aircraft with vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses. Small unmanned aircraft may not operate over any persons not directly involved in the operation. Proposes a microUAS option that would allow operations in Class G airspace, over people not involved in the operation, provided the operator certifies he or she has the requisite aeronautical knowledge to perform the operation. Daylight-only operati...

So the game space has changed. The South Africa CAA ( SACAA ) has come out guns blazing drafting regulations regarding remotely Piloted Aircraft/System (RPA/RPS). One thing was clear, this massive chaos that growing in this country had to come to an end. Already, the general population of stakeholders in the civilian airspace have a very nonchalant attitude when it comes to safety and security. So the introduction of aviation regulations towards the growing market of drones is a much needed intervention.

FAA can't regulate small RC aircraft as "drones," judge rules NTSB judge strikes down $10,000 fine against man for unlicensed "commercial use." Raphael Pirker prepares to launch his " FPV " remote controlled plane in New York City in a video he posted in 2010. http://vimeo.com/17351140 In 2011, Raphael Pirker used a RiteWing Zephyr II  remote-controlled flying wing to record aerial video of a hospital campus for use in a television advertisement. That act resulted in the Federal Aviation Administration issuing a fine to Pirker of $10,000 for that commercial use of an unmanned aircraft. But now an administrative judge with the National Transportation Safety Board has struck down that fine , contending that FAA regulations can't be applied to the styrofoam drone Pirker flew.