California has received 70 exemptions — the most in the U.S. — from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate unmanned aircraft systems commercially in the National Airspace System, according to a report released Thursday by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.
The association examined the first 500 exemptions granted since the FAA announced in May 2014 it would consider exemptions for low-risk unmanned aircraft. About 800 exemptions have been granted from 2,200 requests, the study found.
Film and TV received the most, with 23 approved exemptions. Real estate followed with 15 and agriculture with 14.
The complete study, including state-by-state breakdowns, is available at http://auvsilink.org/advocacy/Section333.html.
A 2013 economic impact study by the association found that the Unmanned Aerial Systems industry will create more than 18,000 new jobs and more than $14.3 billion in economic impact in California within the first 10 years following the integration of drones.
