Non-military Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems in the United States

Several government agencies outside of the Department of Defense (DoD), local law enforcement agencies, and universities use unmanned aerial systems (UASs). UAS use is governed and limited by the FAA, and commercial platforms cannot operate without certificates of authorization. The FAA is working to incorporate all sizes of UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS) by a mandated deadline of 2015. This market insight provides information on non-military UAS operations and points at trends to help market participants plan for the day when FAA rules for UAS flight in the NAS are finalized.