Agency predicts drone pilots will far exceed private manned aviators in a few years

U.S. regulators expect the number of commercial drones and people flying them to quadruple over the next five years, the latest positive indicator for the industry.

Updated Federal Aviation Administration numbers released last week project about 450,000 such unmanned aerial vehicles will be operating in domestic airspace in 2022, versus today’s roughly 110,000. That increase is anticipated even if federal restrictions are loosened more slowly than growth advocates desire.