UK to bring in drone registration

[Mark Fry 0]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-40684581

Quote

"The UK government has announced plans to introduce drone registration and safety awareness courses for owners of the small unmanned aircraft.
It will affect anyone who owns a drone which weighs more than 250 grams (8oz)."

 

Some text copied from a post on FB:

Quote

 

Hi Folks,
As it contains photos, I can't seem to post the whole press release which is now OK for me to share / publish - but there will be loads of it in the next day or two.
to the best of my knowledge, The testing is really about drone and aircraft collisions - aspects of privacy and drone / person property implications are not within the scope of the report.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has responded to the publication on Saturday morning of the independent test results of drone collisions with aircraft. The project was jointly funded by BALPA, the Department for Transport and the Military Aviation Authority.
BALPA believes the results of the tests are a robust verification of the Association’s warnings over several years that drone impacts on aircraft windscreens and helicopter rotors can be catastrophic, even at relatively modest speeds with small drones, and that the industry and regulator cannot rely on birdstrike data and certification for drones.

Brian Strutton, BALPA General Secretary, said:
“We wrote to the Secretary of State on 20th April 2017 calling for swift Government action to tackle this potentially life-threatening risk and the independent report fully justifies this.
“Pilots have been warning about the rise in the number of cases of drones being flown irresponsibly close to aircraft and airports for some time.
“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. And those impacts would have catastrophic consequences.
“We are pleased the Department for Transport and Military Aviation Authority partnered with this BALPA on this testing and we are reassured that the matter is being taken seriously in the corridors of power.
“We will wait to see the details, but we are encouraged that the Government has taken onboard calls for a registration and licensing scheme for drones and drone users. This will help ensure users understand and follow safety rules, and help the police trace drones if needed.
“We hope that urgent Government action will now follow to control this proven threat before there is a disaster and lives are lost.”
BALPA (British Airline Pilots Association) is calling for:
Compulsory registration of drones and drone users, to improve traceability, and promote adherence to existing regulations.
Mandatory geo-fencing around airports to reduce conflict with aircraft.
Investment in technology to allow air traffic controllers to “see” drones when a conflict with a manned aircraft is possible.
Resourcing the police and the CAA to enforce the law and ensure safe skies.
High-profile prosecutions to highlight the problem and make people aware that flying drones dangerously could lead to five years in prison.
Immediate introduction of air traffic control procedures to reduce aircraft speeds to safe levels when a drone is reported as a possible threat.

The picture is from the testing and shows a larger hobbyist sized drone penetrating the windshield of an airliner during one of the tests.

 

Drones will have to be registered in the UK, Government says

http://news.sky.com/story/drones-will-have-to-be-registered-in-the-uk-government-says-10957190

Edited July 22, 2017 by Mark Fry

[Mark Fry 0]

Unlocking the UK's High Tech Economy: Consultation on the Safe Use of Drones in the UK Government Response

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/631638/unlocking-the-uks-high-tech-economy-consultation-on-the-safe-use-of-drones-in-the-uk-government-response.pdf

 

BALPA Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (drones) Mid-Air Collision Study

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/628092/small-remotely-piloted-aircraft-systems-drones-mid-air-collision-study.pdf

Edited July 22, 2017 by Mark Fry

[Bravedan 106]

As EASA has long stated, and which has not been counter stated anywhere AFAIK within the UK or Euro zone, registration changes are planned to apply to ALL unmanned aircraft (within whatever weight etc bands they finally end up with, they seem to just be copying Canada's "blind man in a coal cellar" approach since they can't copy the USA as its been legally squashed!).

Any changes are therefore heading towards ALL model flyers despite what the press choose to highlight.

( why I posted in members, general)

[Bravedan 106]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40697682

That drone is from the photos a DJI Inspire, and costs roughly £3000 min to put in the air, and needs a lot of power to lift its 3 plus kg weight. Beginner material? Should a beginner be ABLE to buy one AT ALL?? This is the drone equivalent of a raw beginner fixed wing pilot with a 100cc 1/3 scale petrol plane. Or a learner driver with a suoercar driving it solo.

Registration would have made no difference.

An Online course would have made no difference (The owner had rec'd hands on training which it seems was not complete, yet went his own way taking someone who sadly needed a grounding in common sense possibly even more).

 

Edited July 23, 2017 by Bravedan

[Bravedan 106]

https://www.bmfa.org/News/News-Page/ArticleID/2475/Government-Publishes-Consultation-on-the-Safe-Use-of-Drones-in-the-UK