More Than 80,000 Drones Registered, 60,000 Pilot Certificates Issued in 1 Year, Says FAA

More than 80,000 individual drones were registered for commercial and government uses and more than 60,000 people obtained a pilot certificate to operate unmanned aircraft systems since the small drone rule known as Part 107 (see 1608290049) took effect a year ago, said the FAA in a Wednesday news release. The FAA said up to 1.6 million commercial drones, which weigh under 55 pounds, could be operating by 2021. The release touted drone uses including in response and recovery efforts for Hurricane Harvey.