FAA outlines new rules for drones and their operators

Federal officials say they will allow operators to fly small drones over people and at night, potentially giving a boost to commercial use of the machines. Most drones will need to be equipped so they can be identified remotely by law enforcement officials. The final rules announced by the Federal Aviation Administration "get us closer to the day when we will more routinely see drone operations such as the delivery of packages," said FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson. Drones are the fastest-growing segment in all of transportation, with more than 1.7 million under registration, according to the Transportation Department. However, the widespread commercial use of the machines has developed far more slowly than many advocates expected.