Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have gone from being the stuff of science fiction and high level government projects to being something your ten-year-old puts on his Christmas list – and something that the Secret Service investigates when it crashes on the White House lawn. Take a look at what drones can do – and what they mean to our airspace today.

Nicknamed for the term for a male bee, a drone is an unmanned flying object. While the image today brings to mind the buzzing, levitating, remote-controlled electronics, one of the earliest recorded attacks by drones was mounted by Austria, sending bomb-filled balloons to Venice in 1849. Steam-powered devices were flown along the Potomac River near Washington, DC in 1896, and in 1898, aerial surveillance made its debut in the Spanish-American war. The U.S. military attached a camera to a kite and produced the first aerial reconnaissance photos. That same year, scientist and Edison-contemporary Nikola Tesla was granted a patent in the United States for “Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Mechanism of Moving Vessels or Vehicles,” covering “any type of vessel or vehicle which is capable of being propelled and directed, such as a boat, a balloon or a carriage.” He demonstrated a remote control boat in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, to the crowd’s amazement and disbelief.

Drones advanced through the 20th century, with experiments in World War I (considered for defense against Zeppelins), World War II (the Nazis tried radio-controlled missiles during their attacks on England) and into the space race (the unmanned satellites, rockets and missiles used by America and Russia). After U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the USSR in 1960, work on UAVs increased, and were used in battle as early as 1964. The United States Air Force 100th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing flew over 3,000 missions with UAVs during the war.

After 9/11, the use of drones became more ubiquitous. The leader of Al Qaeda in Yemen was assassinated by a drone in 2002. “Before drones, the way you went after terrorists was you sent your troops,” Daniel Goure told Rolling Stone. Goure, an expert on national security, served in the Defense Department during both Bush administrations. “You sent your Navy, you sent your Marines, like Reagan going after Qaddafi in the Eighties. You bombed their camp. Now you have drones that can be operated by the military or the CIA from thousands of miles away.” Drones are also relied on for surveillance, able to provide real-time data on a battlefield. The RQ-170 Sentinel was used in the raid that killed bin Laden.

More recently, remote control aircraft have been reborn as drones and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). The flying toys have become more popular than ever with aviation hobbyists, DIY and electronics enthusiasts and the young or young at heart. Tech magazine Wired reported in 2012 that open source drones outnumbered military drones in the United States, and noted the similarities between the unmanned helicopters shown by defense contractors at the 2011 Paris Auto Show and the ones shown by toy manufacturers at the Hobby Expo China soon after. The excitement was tempered by a very real concern for the loss of privacy: the magazine published an opinion piece earlier the same year that advised the limitations of American law to protect citizens against drone surveillance.

Drones are far reaching in popular culture – the popular sitcom Modern Family has had two episodes revolving around drone use: one, where parents Claire and Phil use a drone to see if their son is getting into trouble (2014’s “iSpy”), and another (2015’s “Closet? You’ll Love It!”) with the family teaming up to thwart a drone spying on them at the pool.

Hobbyists using UAVs for recreational use are limited by the FAA: the devices aren’t allowed within 5 miles of airports, or around some of the most sensitive areas of the United States, like the White House. The National Park Service bans drones inside its parks, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prohibits flight in certain areas as well. Drones were banned from the stadium at Super Bowl 50, and cities like Indianapolis are considering ordinances to prohibit drone use at major sporting events. Before taking your new drone out for a spin, check a credible resource, like KnowBeforeYouFly.org or the FAA’s app, B4UFLY, available for iPhone and Android. Drones must also be registered with the FAA: registration became required in December 2015, and can be processed through the FAA’s website.

The FAA approved the use of some small drones for commercial purposes in 2015, paving the way for businesses to use an unmanned aircraft system. Businesses and individuals using the UAS for commercial purposes, including providing contract or professional services, must receive approval from the FAA. The FAA can issue an exemption or an airworthiness certificate, but all operators using a drone for commercial use must have an FAA Certificate of Authorization (COA). Internet retail giant Amazon received the go-ahead from the government in March 2015 to test drones for delivery purposes, but with significant restrictions: the drones must stay below 400 feet and within the line of sight of the operator, who is required to have a private pilot’s license.

In June 2016, the FAA announced a new set of rules (Summary of Small Unmanned Aircraft Rule [Part 107]) for the “routine commercial operation” of drones weighing less than 55 pounds, to take effect in late August. “We are part of a new era in aviation, and the potential for unmanned aircraft will make it safer and easier to do certain jobs, gather information, and deploy disaster relief,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. The criteria are aimed at making the process safer, minimizing risks to other aircraft as well as people and property.

“With this new rule, we are taking a careful and deliberate approach that balances the need to deploy this new technology with the FAA’s mission to protect public safety,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “But this is just our first step. We’re already working on additional rules that will expand the range of operations.” The drone operator will be required to be at least 16 years old and hold a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating, or supervised by someone with the certificate. Requirements for the remote pilot certificate include either a knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center or an existing non-student Part 61 pilot certificate; if the latter, the pilot must have completed a flight review in the past 24 months and must take an FAA-provided UAS training course online.

As drones become more popular and businesses see advantages in using them commercially, regulations and safety requirements may continue to change frequently: be sure to check the FAA’s website to make sure you are in compliance with the latest rulings. And even if you’re leaving the flying to the professionals, keep your eye on the skies: Amazon isn’t the only company to make a move into delivery via drone. Walmart applied for permission to test drones for delivery in October 2015, and Google stated in 2015 that they plan to use drones to transport packages by 2017.

From the FAA: Know Before You Fly

The FAA has released a number of guidelines for recreational users of small unmanned aircraft. Are you within regulations when you fly? Check this list (from KnowBeforeYouFly.org) and see:

• Follow community-based safety guidelines, as developed by organizations such as the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
• Fly no higher than 400 feet and remain below any surrounding obstacles when possible.
• Keep your sUAS in eyesight at all times, and use an observer to assist if needed.
• Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations, and you must see and avoid other aircraft and obstacles at all times.
• Do not intentionally fly over unprotected persons or moving vehicles, and remain at least 25 feet away from individuals and vulnerable property.
• Contact the airport and control tower before flying within five miles of an airport or heliport. (Read about best practices here)
• Do not fly in adverse weather conditions such as in high winds or reduced visibility.
• Do not fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Ensure the operating environment is safe and that the operator is competent and proficient in the operation of the sUAS.
• Do not fly near or over sensitive infrastructure or property such as power stations, water treatment facilities, correctional facilities, heavily traveled roadways, government facilities, etc.
• Check and follow all local laws and ordinances before flying over private property.
• Do not conduct surveillance or photograph persons in areas where there is an expectation of privacy without the individual’s permission (see AMA’s privacy policy).

Users of commercial and recreational UAS should be aware that in remote, rural and agricultural areas, manned aircraft, including fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, may be operating very close to ground level. Pilots conducting agricultural, firefighting, law enforcement, emergency medical, wildlife survey operations and a variety of other services all legally and routinely work in low-level airspace. Operators controlling UAS in these areas should maintain situational awareness, give way to, and remain a safe distance from these low-level, manned airplanes and helicopters.