FAA seeking input on drones

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration has taken the first concrete step toward allowing drones to fly alongside passenger airplanes in the United States.

Under recent legislation, the FAA is moving forward with a plan to integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace by 2015.

In a notice to be published today, the FAA is seeking advice on how to select six places around the country that will be used for testing how to safely fly drones in the same area as traditional planes.

Proponents of the plan envision drones being used to help dust crops, find forest fires, sell houses, shoot movies and assist local police in chasing suspects.

Until now, the FAA has banned the widespread use of drones because of concerns that unmanned planes cannot see other aircraft and could cause a crash.