This illustrates a deep misunderstanding. Manufacturers are the only organizations with current aerospace engineers. They will always be the ones to write the certification documents and submit them to the FAA. However, the FAA should punish them when they falsify those documents, as in the 737 MAX.
Also, the two 737 MAX crashes killed about 350 people total.
> there has been no deaths caused by drones, and no confirmed drone incidents.
There have been people killed by the blades of drones already.
Waiting until a drone kills somebody in an airplane accident doesn't make any sense.
From the FAA standpoint, they're trying to figure out a way to separate airspace with trained pilots from untrained drone operators. Historically, separation was done by regulating altitudes, but drone operators are not obeying, so there's no "positive airspace control."
So far the FAA doesn't know how to do that, and I'm in 100% agreement with them. About the only constructive thing I can suggest is to add a terrain map to each drone that prevents flight above 400', and outside of airport and restricted areas.
It's been amusing following the drone saga in the USA. The FAA has acted in a very predictable manner that everybody in the aviation industry knew. It's the hobbyists that had unrealistic expectations from Day One. Also, one bad package delivery drone flight and it's the final curtain for those, too. If you work on one of those projects, transfer out now!
source: commercially-rated airplane pilot.