Drones are finding increasing uses in a wide range of applications from life-saving delivery of medical supplies to remote locations, through filming, commercial deliveries, agricultural and construction monitoring, to military and surveillance operations. Innovation foundation Nesta has carried out an analysis of the future for drone technology in the urban environment. The research for this project involved partnership with five British cities to analyse the possible roles for drones in our towns and cities.
The growth in drone use is striking. Civil Aviation Authority commercial licences have increased from five in 2010 to over 4,500 at the time of writing. Highlighting both the exciting potential and risks attaching to this rapid development, the report calls for public involvement and a new approach to regulation to shape the next steps for this rapidly expanding technology.
Drone regulation is currently under the civil aviation regime. The Air Navigation Order 2016 controls how and where drones may be operated, requiring use within the visual line of sight of the operator, for example. It has recently been updated to improve safety, in response to increasing reports of incidents with aircraft. It now restricts all flight above 400 feet and within one kilometre of airport boundaries. Forthcoming changes will require registration for owners of drones above 250g, and online safety tests for drone users.
Operation outside of these limits – beyond visual line of sight, for example, requires the development of a safety case in order to obtain CAA approval.
Of course, other laws and regulations also affect drone use, including privacy and cybersecurity laws. Compliance with these need to be built into drone operations as they develop. But restrictions on use of air space could act as a brake on potentially beneficial developments of the technology.
While regulation to promote safety is important, the Nesta report queries whether a new approach is required to enable the technology to fulfil its potential.
“.. as drone use continues to grow, there is an opportunity to take a more flexible, anticipatory approach to regulating drones; based on enabling, rather than simply curtailing certain uses.”
The current restrictive approach, with exceptions granted on a case-by-case basis, works for now, but the report argues that a more systematic approach will be needed in the future. It suggests an automated system of permissions linked to an unmanned traffic management system for all but the most challenging uses.
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