# Taking Flight (Legally!): Unraveling US Drone Regulations

- Event: Xpress ’23
- Published: October 11, 2023
- Length: 6:59
- Watch: https://nestgen.org/library/watch/3FPO36oC7RU/

> The transcript of a recorded NestGen session, for reading or for use with an AI tool. It comes from the video's
> captions; automatic captions can mishear names and terms.

## About this session

Dive deep into the world of drone regulations with our latest session of NestGen Xpress. We sit down with Grant, the VP of Regulatory Affairs at DroneUp, to discuss the nuances of flying drones legally.

From surprising loopholes to the most crucial regulations, get a comprehensive understanding of how the U.S. compares to global standards. As the drone industry rapidly evolves, staying updated on these regulations is paramount. Join us for this engaging conversation and equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate the skies safely and efficiently.

Learn how FlytBase is helping to get these BVLOS regulation approved:

## Transcript

**[0:05]** we are live welcome to nestrian express live from the commercial UV Expo we are at boo 423 we're at FlytBase and this is going to be a lot of fun because I know everyone's just getting ready to drink now I understand we're all ready but I have one amazing final interview for today um this is going to be a great episode I am here with Grant kot VP of Regulatory Affairs at drone up I don't know if you heard of that company but they're pretty big um and we just have some really fun questions today just going to have some fun just have a little chat with Grant today and let's just let's just talk so let's just Dive Right In so this is about taking flight legally so what is the funniest loophole that you've ever found in drone regulations it's actually credit I had to give to CEO Tom Walker so I you know prior to me going full-time and trying up I worked with several drone delivery compaigns and industry and um it's funny because everyone always fixated on part 135 and how

**[1:06]** and there literally was some unspoken rule that you cannot operate trone deliveries under part 107 and people just adhere to it abided by it you know for for a year but Tom I'll never forget you know is the one who said there's literally nothing in 4 107 that says we cannot do pack delivery I'm you're right there's not you know you can't apply for a boss waiver or package delivery but there nothing that says you can't D so loophole I don't know but I have to give predit for Tom for that one cuz that obviously it was his idea and look where it got us so 34 locations nationwide uh with Walmart so absolutely you know I think that's important I think that's important like to to know the regulations so that you can you can actually do something you can create an entire business based off of that understanding so based on sort of that concept what do you think is sort of the most important regulation that drone operators and companies here should be aware of in the US well in the US

**[2:10]** especially be lost Beyond visual line of sight of the remote power man is the absolutely most important regulation is the number one regulation that is um slowing down scalability for drone operators in America in other countries they have what's called standard SC areas where under this circumstance of course you go beyond a mile 2 miles 5 miles 10 miles whatever because it's just standard but we don't have that yet in the US so uh not being able to fly be on the visual line of sight of the pilot without a waiver is a big problem um it's a big one for us and it's one that the FAA and Congress are working on right now okay so hopefully we'll see some uh relief in that area very soon okay so on the sort of same beat uh what are sort of like the common misconceptions that about drone regulations that that you'd maybe like to help clarify for the audience well you know the biggest wi of course is when already mentioned M you can fly drone deliveries under 4107 you can um it's

**[3:14]** also now it's legal to fly drones at night provided you have the right lights on it y um there was this big rush when the obser people rule came out but what we have learned over the past two years is that being able to declare a method of compliance that is sufficient for the FAA is just as challenging as fighting to have the right to fly over people so um one thing that I would say is a misconception people automatically think people can fly over people now you cannot you absolutely cannot and um next to be L I would say flying being able to fly over people and moving Vehicles is the next but it's important regul okay I I think that's really crucial because I think a lot of people definitely do think that and and they absolutely cannot um so we already touched on this just a little bit this is our final question but you talked about other countries and sort of the way they do it with scenario based models like so how do our drone regulations here in the United States how do they compare and you could use a specific example to those

**[4:17]** other countries so the United States of course is globally considered to be the birthplace of Aviation um we run the risk of losing with drones because other countries are surpassing us and Fa is us and Congress is it as well there's a price you pay for having the safest airospace in the world and that's you often have the strictest regulatory environment so other countries you know especially I'm thinking um Australia places in Europe um even in South America there are places where you can just it's much easier fly Beyond visible line of sight and how many news stories of you heard uh drown crashes B boss yeah that would be zero there you have it you know uh Walmart's now had think had over 10,000 deliveries and um through Us and other uh other participants in the industry such as

**[5:18]** zip wine um and what I can say is my knowledge Zero 4 incidents so what exactly is the issue here what are we protecting against and you know you you don't want to be the first one have the Dr probity scy is someone but this is you know it's my six year doing this and I I have not heard of one incident like not a real incident a reportable incident so I I think what is very very important is for the United States to realize that yes it is important to protect that reputation of having to save the serious B of the world but you also have to balance that against being one of the most innovative countries in the world and that's a struggle that we have seen in the aviation industry not just with drones but with other places as well so it's something that you know had drone up and I know other companies that do this as well we are working closely with the FAA and Congress to really try and help find that balance because it's going to be what propels America to eventually being

**[6:21]** the leader in this space and I really appreciate that mindset because I don't think it's too late I think it's still very very early and I think the lessons that are being learned in those other countries luckily we have a collaborative culture in this industry that we are learning from them as well since they're pushing the envelope and when we have to sort of pull back but in a lot of ways we are being very collaborative so I think that's really important um this has been amazing man so much fun I love catching up with you gr anytime Jason absolutely I enjoy this is fantastic well this has been another great episode of nestan Express this is Jason and bye