The ubiquity of drones in the sky has thrown up a plethora of legal and ethical challenges for civil aviation regulators. Now the authorities are coming under increasing pressure to regulate to safeguard the multi-billion dollar aviation industry against avoidable disaster. Whether they can remains to be seen.ecent advances in low-cost technologies have seen Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, become easily purchasable playthings for any and all to get their hands on.
Recent research published by MarketsandMarkets claims the value of the commercial drones market will hit $5.59 billion (Dh20.53 billion) by 2020, at a CAGR of 32 per cent over the next five years, making it one of the most dynamic growth sectors in the global aerospace industry.
Furthermore, aerospace and defence intelligence consultancy Teal Group published a study that estimates spending on drones and drone technology to nearly double over the next decade from current annual UAV expenditure of $6.4 billion to $11.5 billion in 2025, reaching a total of $91 billion spent in the next ten years.
But the proliferation of these easy-to-operate mini-aircraft is causing a headache for civil aviation authorities across the globe following a spate of drone-related incidents that have put carriers and airports at serious risk.
While loose restrictions on the public use of drones have existed since the 1970s — when the technology was first developed — it has become clear to the authorities that drone users are either unaware of the legal framework they are subject to, or that they are flagrantly flaunting the rules. And although the International Civil Aviation Organisation is expected to develop a set of international standards to regulate drone activity over the coming five years, regulators are being urged to act faster.
The US-based Airline Pilots Association has repeatedly expressed its concern that a serious collision owing to the misuse of drones is only a matter of time if the correct steps to prevent future misuse are not put in place soon.
Traffic in the Sky
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has recorded six serious incidents over the past year where drones have come within 20 feet of airliners at the country’s airports. One such precarious incident occurred in March, when the pilot of a 150-seat A320 Airbus spotted a “black object” passing just 50 feet above the path of the airliner at 1,800 feet as it was coming in to land at London Heathrow – one of the world’s busiest airports.
Tim Johnson, CAA Policy Director, speaking at the launch of the Drone Safety Awareness Day in July, said, “Drone users must understand that when taking to the skies they are entering one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world — a complex system that brings together all manner of aircraft including passenger aeroplanes, military jets, helicopters, gliders, light aircraft and now drones.
“When doing so, they must be aware of the rules and regulations for flying drones that are designed to keep all air users safe.”
The CAA highlights these restrictions for drone users:
• Drones can fly no higher than 400 feet
• Recklessly endangering an “aircraft in flight” is a criminal offence in the UK; anyone convicted of the charge can face a custodial sentence
• An unmanned aircraft fitted with a camera must not be flown within 150m of a congested area or large group of people, such as a sporting event or concert
• An unmanned aircraft fitted with a camera must always be flown at least 50m away from a person, vehicle, building or structure
Barely six months after the near miss in London, Dubai International Airport’s traffic was brought to a standstill for nearly an hour due to the misuse of a mini UAV.
In response, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has upped the regulatory ante. In a statement sent to GN Focus, Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, GCAA Director-General, says, “We formed a national committee to conduct a comprehensive study to lay down detailed laws and legislation for these modern systems of drones.
“These will be added to the regulations currently in place, which prevent the use without prior permission from the GCAA, in coordination with the local aviation authorities.”
The GCAA has categorised drones into three weight categories — less than 5kg; 5-25kg; and over 25kg — and the restrictions vary depending on the category. But all UAVs cannot be flown within 5km of the outer fence of an airport, heliport, or any other landing site or airfield. The GCAA states that UAVs can only be flown for private use in specially demarcated areas. It is currently drawing up a map detailing the specific sites where private use is permitted.
Despite the raft of new regulations being implemented across Europe, the Middle East and the US, Saj Ahmad, Chief Aviation Analyst at Strategic Aero, is sceptical as to how effective new legislation can be.
Blanket ban
“Unless we go down the draconian route of registering everyone with a drone like we do with cars and bikes, there are always going to be instances where someone irresponsible uses them too close to aeroplanes and airports — thus triggering security concerns,” he tells GN Focus.
“There are simply too many drone-making firms to clamp down on. People at home can make them in their spare time if they want on a shoestring budget.
“The only answer could be to mete out punitive sanctions to deter people. Short of that, you would have to legislate to ban them altogether,” he says.
Geo-fencing
But it may not be as simple as a blanket ban. Drones are sometimes so small that they don’t show up on air traffic control radars, making it impossible to spot them from control towers to forewarn pilots of problems with their flight paths until the UAV is seen by the pilot.
The British Airline Pilots Association has been campaigning for drones to be programmed not to enter airspace. This is what’s known as geo-fencing. Some drones, such as the Phantom series manufactured by DJI, have geo-fencing included in their specifications.
These drones cannot enter the airspace of airports due to coordinates inscribed in their software. But although DJI manufacture responsibly, this won’t stop market competitors from other areas of the globe deliberately failing to include geo-fencing in their drones, which can easily be purchased online and shipped anywhere.
One study says spending on UAVs will hit $11.5 billion in 2025 — and that $91 billion will have been spent over the next ten years
