Drones could be about to become a lot more commonplace in a variety of industries after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it’s ready to finalize a regulatory framework governing their use by businesses.

The FAA said in a statement that a new committee is ready to publish recommendations on April 1, allowing drones to be operated safely in U.S. skies. The recommendations will also determine how drone makers can comply with the new regulations.

According to Reuters, the FAA has been under heavy pressure from industry and Congress to speed up its move to accommodate drones for commercial purposes. Concerned parties are reportedly keen for the FAA to quickly establish a set of clear rules and regulations so they can start using drones in their businesses. However, Reuters says that companies like Amazon Web Services won’t get the go ahead to start using drones for delivery anytime soon, because the new rules will only pertain to drones used in the farming, real estate and construction industries.

“We recognize the significant industry interest in expanding commercial access to the National Airspace System,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in a statement. “The short deadline reinforces our commitment to a flexible regulatory approach.”

The FAA has already put some preliminary regulations in place. Last year it ruled that drone owners will need to register their machines if they weigh more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams). Owners will be charged a $5 registration fee for each drone they wish to operate.

“Unmanned aircraft have fundamentally changed the accuracy of utility and oil and gas inspections,” RnR Market Research said in a report last year. “They are set to fundamentally change how agriculture is conducted. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) markets at $609 million in 2014 are forecast to reach $4.8 billion dollars, worldwide by 2021.”

Image credit: Fill via pixabay.com