UK Drone ‘pilots’ Must Pass Safety Tests
Drone users in the UK will be required to do safety awareness tests as part of planned new legislation on their usage. Police will also be given new powers to crack down on illegal use of the unmanned aerial vehicles.
The government is planning to create a raft of new police powers as part of a crackdown on the civilian use of drones, the Department for Transport has announced.
The new drone bill to be published in 2018 will allow police officers to order drone operators to ground their devices where necessary, alongside a series of new changes that will create a mandatory registry for larger unmanned aerial vehicles, such as those sold by Parrot or DJI.
It could also include a ban on drones flying near airports or above 122 metres (400 feet), the government says, and a requirement for drone owners to use apps, rather than simple remote controls, to fly their aircraft, in order to ensure that the rules are always readily accessible and incorporated into the flight plan. The proposed bill will be accompanied by changes to the air navigation order that will introduce safety awareness tests for drone users, and the requirement to register with the government before flying drones that weigh more than 250g.
New Drone Technology
The government hopes to harness new drone technology which could see them used on oil rigs, in construction, for organ transport and parcel deliveries. The bill has been welcomed by the pilots' union, which has warned of near misses involving drones and aircraft. Balpa said there had been 81 incidents so far this year, up from 71 in 2016 and 29 in 2015.
The union's general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: "These proposals are a step towards the safe integration of drones, but until the new rules are in place the threat of a serious collision remains." In July a drone flew directly over the wing of a large passenger jet as it came into land at London's Gatwick Airport, which a report said had put 130 lives at risk. The proposed bill - to be published in spring 2018 - would ensure that owners of drones weighing more than 250g would need to register and sit a test.
Owners would be banned from flying them near airports or at heights above 400ft. Police could also get new powers to ground and seize drones if they suspect they had been used in criminal activity. Christian Struwe, head of European public policy at drone maker DJI, warned that some of the proposals may be "difficult to police" - for example the height restriction. He told the BBC "The good thing is that as an industry we are already working on it. We can limit how high they can fly." Mr Struwe pointed out that currently there is no "hard limit" on how close drones can fly to airports. "The current wording is that you should stay well clear," he said. He welcomed the proposals to limit the "bad use" of drones, adding that it was important people are aware there is regulation they need to follow.
Aside from the Civil Aviation Authority's Drone Code, he said drone users should respect their neighbours' right to privacy and steer clear of sensitive areas, such as government buildings.
The transport minister, Lady Sugg, said the government wanted to strike the right balance between harnessing drone potential and ensuring they are not misused. "We're bringing forward this legislation in order to ensure that drones can be used safely, whilst also addressing some of the safety and privacy concerns that people have," she said.
The government is also working with drone manufacturers on technology which produces virtual barriers, to stop the machines operating in restricted areas.
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