The U.S. government’s first attempt at widespread approval for the use of small unmanned aircraft could change how some everyday business activities get done, bridge inspections being one. It may produce at least $100 million in economic benefits, according to an analysis by President Barack Obama’s administration, Bloomberg reported.

What it won’t allow are the kind of autonomous flights envisioned by companies including Amazon.com Inc., Google Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. At least not yet. Even the initial uses are at least two years away.

“This is not the last word, by any means,” said Michael Huerta, chief of the Federal Aviation Administration.

For the time being, the FAA has concluded that small drones for hire must be flown within sight of an operator and away from crowds for safety reasons.

The proposed rules would allow limited commercial flights by small drones weighing less than 55 pounds. The drones would be limited to heights of less than 500 feet and speeds under 100 mph, and they must avoid airports, planes and restricted airspace. Operators would need to pass a basic test every two years and have a permit, CNNMoney reported.

Those restrictions will not only prevent Amazon’s Prime Air from making deliveries by drone; they may limit other uses companies were awaiting, such as long-range pipeline inspections and news-media photography of public events, according to Patrick Egan, an editor at the informational website suasnews.com, who participated in the industry committee that advised the FAA on the rule proposal.

“It is pretty limiting, but we need to open the door somewhere,” Egan said.

The FAA identified at least four areas where it said small unmanned aircraft can be beneficial: photography, agriculture, law enforcement and search and rescue, and inspecting structures such as bridges and telecommunications towers.