US interest in recreational drones is soaring.
Consumer experts, like Brian Mark Walter from the Consumer Technology Association, believe the technology could soon be part of a multi-billion dollar industry.
'400,000 drones will be sold to consumers and overall we predict that over 700,000 will be sold this year, a 63 per cent increase over last year'
Non-military drone providers at this year's National Drone Show put the rise in sales down to affordability and ease of use...Matthew Creger, of Intelligent UAS, a civilian drone provider said the appeal was clear...
"You can get them right out of the box, power your batteries, power your transmitters, plug it in and be up and flying within ten minutes"
Despite that growth industry specialists at this year's US National Drone Show, such as Flight Instructor Gene Pyson say the US has serious competition especially from the Asian Market...
'China has the low cost nature so most of the products are being commercially manufactured in China, so China is way ahead in terms of regulations than other countries are far behind the US is trying to catch up because they see a looming billion dollar industry and they see jobs and a lot of potential'
But civilian drones have raised privacy and security questions with the US Federal Aviation Administration announcing new regulations and possibly a registry to track the many drones now flooding US airspace.
DC-based Aviation lawyer Christine Walls says the FAA is trying to keep pace with the rapid rise in so-called unmanned aerial systems...
Golf courses, railway companies interested in getting air shots of railroads wanting to check their tracks, flooding, track maintenance, previously available'
Under the new FAA regulations drone-flyers who break the law could face fine's of up to $250,000 or even 3 years behind bars... penalties the government hopes will deter illegal-drone activity in US skies.
For CRI, I'm Kevin McAleese in Washington
