European aviation industry calls for strict rules on drones

AVIATION associations representing airlines, pilots and airports across Europe called yesterday for mandatory registration and training of drone users following a number of near-misses between the unmanned devices and aircraft.

Drones are increasingly being used in areas such as agriculture, filming, for recreational use and for monitor- ing power plants and oil facilities. That has led to a rise in the number of near-misses with aircraft as reported by pilots, especially on approach to landing.

Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority, for example, issued a warning last year after seven incidents in less than a year in which drones had flown near planes at different airports.

There are no harmonised regulations across Europe for drones, although Europe’s aviation safety agency is working on a set of rules.

In a joint statement yesterday, European aviation associations called for the registration of drones at the point of purchase and resale, mandatory training for users and the installation of technology to stop them from going too high, too far or into restricted areas near airports.

“Drones are such an appealing technology that many of the drone users are tempted to use them to the limits – or even beyond,” Dirk Polloczek, the president of the European Cockpit Association, said. Popularity Highlighting their popularity, Paris held a drone festival at the weekend, allowing users to race their devices within an enclosed course on the ChampsElysees.

Major drone maker DJI of China has built geofencing into apps controlling its drones, preventing them from flying into sensitive areas. It has also introduced a feature to override the feature in some instances, but only if users first register their details so they can be more easily identified.

“The signatories want to support the effort of the European regulator to produce a robust harmonized EU-wide regulatory safety framework for drones,” the aviation associations said.