Red Ice News

The Future is the Past

U.K. Imposes Rules on Hobby Drones
New to Red Ice? Start Here!

U.K. Imposes Rules on Hobby Drones

Source: wsj.com

Operators will have to register devices over a certain size and take a test to assure proper use

The U.K. will require operators of many hobby drones to register them with the government and take a test to assure proper use amid growing global concern the increasingly popular unmanned planes pose a threat to aviation.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and European authorities have registered an increasing number of incidents in which drones have come worryingly close to airliners. In several cases airports have had to temporarily halt operations after drones were detected that could have endangered flights.

The British government said it was taking action after research showed drones weighing as little as 400 grams (0.9 pound) could damage the windscreens of helicopters. It would take models weighing about 2 kg (4.4 pounds) or more to damage the windscreens of airliners when those are flying at high speed, the government said in a new report, downplaying concern such a turn of events is likely during takeoff or landing, when most drone encounters occur.

Still, the British Air Line Pilots Association said action was needed. “This report clearly shows that readily available drones, which can be flown by anyone, can shatter or go straight through an aircraft windshield or shatter a helicopter rotor,” the lobby group said in a statement, adding “those impacts would have catastrophic consequences.”

British Transport Minister Martin Callanan on Saturday that said drones weighing over 250 grams (0.551 pounds) will be covered by the registration requirement.  Operators will also have to show in a test they understand U.K. safety, security and privacy regulations.

The FAA tried to force operators of small drones to register them but a federal court earlier this year struck down the regulation it said violated law. The government of Dubai has been trying to crack down on drone flights after disruptions at its busy airport because of illegal use of such devices. British authorities have recorded more than 40 possible incidents of drones coming to close to planes this year alone.

Mr. Callanan said the U.K. is trying to balance the commercial potential of using drones with the safety demands. “Our measures prioritize protecting the public while maximizing the full potential of drones,” he said.

Some of the smallest and cheapest toy drones wouldn’t be affected. Many of the camera-carrying models that can be purchased relatively cheaply online or at local electronics stores would be affected by the new rules.

To help keep drones away from sensitive sites such as airports or nuclear installations, the British government also is strengthening so called geo-fencing requirements. Those require drone makers to design the devices so they can’t fly in prohibit airspace using the air vehicle’s GPS positioning system.

Britain’s airport lobby group said the government should move rapidly to require geo-fencing technology. 

 

 

Comments

We're Hiring

We are looking for a professional video editor, animator and graphics expert that can join us full time to work on our video productions.

Apply

Help Out

Sign up for a membership to support Red Ice. If you want to help advance our efforts further, please:

Donate

Tips

Send us a news tip or a
Guest suggestion

Send Tip

Related News

Pegida-UK - Smoke, Mirrors and Zionism: The Zionist Takeover of PEGIDA-UK
Pegida-UK - Smoke, Mirrors and Zionism: The Zionist Takeover of PEGIDA-UK
"White children don't suffer as much from sexual abuse as Asian children" court rules in the UK
"White children don't suffer as much from sexual abuse as Asian children" court rules in the UK

Archives Pick

Red Ice T-Shirts

Red Ice Radio

3Fourteen

Con Inc., J6 Political Prisoners & The Pedophile Problem
Kim Coulter - Con Inc., J6 Political Prisoners & The Pedophile Problem
Why European Culture, Art and Beauty Matter
Gifts - Why European Culture, Art and Beauty Matter

TV

Laughter: The New Weapon Of The Far-Right
Laughter: The New Weapon Of The Far-Right
London’s Fourth Plinth To Get Fat Black “Everywoman” Statue
London’s Fourth Plinth To Get Fat Black “Everywoman” Statue

RSSYoutubeGoogle+iTunesSoundCloudStitcherTuneIn

Design by Henrik Palmgren © Red Ice Privacy Policy