UAS must be flown below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles. UAS are considered to be both “motorized equipment” and “mechanical transport” and, as such, they cannot take off from, land in, or be operated from congressionally designated wilderness areas.

Despite their incredible technological advancements, drones (UAVs) face several significant limitations that prevent them from replacing humans or traditional aircraft in many scenarios. Technically, most consumer and commercial drones cannot fly for long periods; battery life typically caps flight time at 20 to 30 minutes, restricting their use for long-range missions. They also cannot operate reliably in adverse weather, such as high winds, heavy rain, or freezing temperatures, which can damage their electronics and destabilize flight. Drones cannot make complex ethical or nuanced "human" decisions in real-time; while they can follow pre-programmed paths, they lack the cognitive ability to react to unpredictable social cues or subtle environmental changes without a human pilot. Legally and physically, drones cannot fly into restricted "no-fly zones" like airports or military bases due to geofencing software, and they cannot carry heavy payloads without sacrificing nearly all their battery life and maneuverability. Finally, they cannot guarantee 100% privacy or security, as their wireless signals can be intercepted or jammed, and their presence often triggers significant legal and social pushback regarding surveillance and data protection in residential areas.