1. Define the following words as used in the article:

1. proliferation (para. 1)
2. proponents (para. 6)
3. regulatory (para. 8)
4. incrementally (para. 9)

2. List the uses people have for drones as mentioned in the article.

3. What recent incident highlighted the potential major problems with widespread drone use?

4. a) What is the purpose of the FAA? (do an internet search or see “Background” below the questions)
b) What steps is the FAA taking to address the potential problems caused by widespread drone use? How is the agency going about it?
c) Is the amount of time it will take the FAA to finalize rules on drone use a good or bad idea? Is the agency’s caution reassuring, is the process completely inefficient, or is this just something that can’t be helped? Explain your answer.

5.  For which type of drone use does the FAA require individual users to gain approval?

6. What are some of the estimates for how many drones are sold/will be used within the next five years?

7. What does the FAA’s unmanned-aircraft office do?

8. Should there be air rules for drone use the way there are for commercial and private planes, commercial and private boats/ships and rules for the road? Explain your answer.

9. Should the FAA grant some/any/all organizations approval to use drones for non-military purposes? Explain your answer.
Consider some of the following before answering:
-Currently, recipients of special permits to use drones must fly in a certain geographic area outlined on their application. Who ensures that the users do so? Does this need to be monitored by a government agency? If so, should taxpayers pay for it?
-For what types of activities should drones be used?
-Should there be any limits on who gets approval? Only the police? All universities? News organizations? Wildlife/game wardens? Farmers? Hobbyists?
-Should there be limits on the number of people/organizations that get approval for drone use?
-Who at the FAA is giving certain applicants approval to use drones? This program is only as good as the integrity of 100% of users and FAA employees 100% of the time. The intended use of surveillance drones can be abused. Is it ok with you if drones are recording your actions in a park, or your backyard? What about celebrities?
-Do you think widespread drone use will affect air travel safety?
-Are common-sense laws/rules needed in this case for people who don’t have any common sense? or is the government over-regulating by getting involved in who can use drones, where and when?
-Should all non-military drone use be banned in the U.S.?
-Just because we have the technology to do something, does that mean we should use it?