'This is a green flag' says CEO of Elgin-based drone video company
Tuesday's White House announcement of new business-friendly regulations for commercial drones came as a pleasant surprise to Dan Isaacson, CEO of Elgin-based CAVU Videos, a national aerial photography company that uses 70 drones to take photos and videos for real estate listings, weddings and more.
Isaacson said he is encouraged the federal government didn't react with fear to the commercial drone business and expects the regulations will give a boost to an already booming industry.
"We've all been under a yellow caution flag for two years, and now this is a green flag," said Isaacson, a member of the Illinois General Assembly's drone task force.
The new regulations are focused on safety, to keep drones from colliding with things in flight and people on the ground. Most involve the drone hobby market, requiring drone pilots to keep their aircraft within sight, operate only in daylight, not have the drone exceed 55 pounds, fly no higher than 400 feet and not fly over strangers.
Commercial operators, like CAVU Videos, will be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration and be required to pass an aeronautical knowledge exam at an FAA-approved test center.
Isaacson said he's happy to do that and supports safety and training measures, especially since he foresees a "gold rush" that soon will result in drones swarming the skies, doing everything from delivering packages to helping people navigate places where cellphones don't work.
"Now, it'll just be about getting everyone who flies for us to take a test to be certified and be back out flying, and I'm fine with that," he said. "Not everyone realizes that (drones) are dangerous in the hands of inexperienced people, or people looking to make a quick buck."