There’s been an explosion in the number of drones entering U.S. airspace over the last couple of years, leading to unsavory incidents such as in California, when firefighters were prevented from using helicopters to tackle a wildfire blaze. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is trying to create legislation governing their use, and as part of that initiative, it’s now beta-testing an iPhone app called B4UFLY, that will warn drone pilots about restricted airspace.

The FAA says around 1,000 drone users are currently testing the app, which provides up to the minute information about restrictions and hazards in the area where people want to fly.

For now, only iPhone users can test the app. The FAA said in a Q&A that testing will take several months, before it makes B4UFLY available to everyone else. The good news is it’s also planning to release an Android app once the testing period is over.

Using the app, drone pilots can input their flight plan, or alternatively just check their current location to see if the airspace is “safe” to fly in. B4UFLY uses three flight-status indicators – red, orange and yellow – to inform pilots if there are any restrictions in an area. For example, if a pilot is within five miles of an airport, B4UFLY will alert them to the fact they need to contact air-traffic-control to obtain permission to fly.

B4UFLY also provides updates on temporary flight restrictions, such as when wildfires are occurring. That will, hopefully, help to prevent incidents such as the one that occurred earlier this year.

The FAA’s proposed regulations around drones are still being ironed out, and unfortunately it’s a painfully slow process. The original proposals were published last year, but were roundly criticized for being too strict – one of the requirements was that drone pilots must have a regular pilot’s license in order to fly, which would have ruled out 99 percent of drone owners. Now the FAA is revising its guidelines, and hopes to have fixed regulations in place by the middle of next year to govern drone flights and keep them out of harm’s way.

If and when the FAA’s regulations are finalized, it should open up the skies to a huge number of commercial drone opportunities. Companies like Amazon.com Inc., and various oil and gas firms, agricultural businesses and media organizations have been pushing to use drones for years, but cannot do so until regulations are in place. Many of these companies have been critical of the FAA’s slow progress in implementing drone regulations, saying their businesses could benefit from significant cost savings and new revenue opportunities.

It’s likely that B4UFLY will become integral to whatever regulations the FAA puts in place. The 1,000 beta-testers are said to include industry professionals, government officials and members of the public. Currently all testing spots have been taken, but the FAA says there’s a waiting list for those who wish to join in.

The FAA says the final version of the app will be released later this year. To apply to be a beta-tester, drone enthusiasts can contact the FAA via email at b4ufly@faa.gov.

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