State Council discusses study on regulation of small drones

Muscat – The State Council on Tuesday discussed a proposal of the working committee tasked with studying the regulation of small drones.

The eighth meeting of the bureau, chaired by H E Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh al Mantheri, was held in the presence of bureau members and the secretary general of the council. It hosted Hon Sayyid Dr Said Sultan Hamood al Busaidi, head of the working committee and Hon Dr Issa bin Said Sulaiman al Kiyumi, rapporteur of the committee.

As per a press release, the State Council chairman welcomed the efforts of the committee in preparing the proposal.

Hon Sayyid Dr Busaidi explained that the proposal was aimed at creating a comprehensive legal mechanism to regulate the import, trade, circulation and use of small drones. It also involves establishing controls to ensure that their usage confirms to social, economic and technical provisions of public safety rules and requirements of airspace of the sultanate.

It is crucial that users do not violate the confidentiality of protected sites, maintain privacy of individuals, as well as assure that by the use of these aircraft ambulance services, rescue, imaging and other services remain unhindered. It was justified by the proposal that there was no legislation governing the use of such aircraft and that there were no existing references in this regard.