Drone-crowded skies get a step closer with US safety rules

A drone carries a UPS package on Children's Island off the coast of Beverly, Massachusetts, US during UPS’ demonstration of a drone making a commercial delivery of a package to a remote or difficult-to-access location. The FAA is establishing four tiers of drones capable of flying over people. — Reuters

Commercial drone use for deliveries and services cleared a major hurdle in the US with new rules allowing the devices to fly over populated areas for the first time and requirements for tracking them to address safety and security concerns.

All but the smallest drones will have to broadcast a radio signal with a digital license plate and a flight location under new Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the agency said in a news release. Details of the move were earlier reported by Bloomberg News.