Would Keep Hobbyists 'In Check' While Promoting Drone Development

The U.K. is considering taking a page ... or perhaps several pages ... from the FAA playbook and instituting a drone registration system and pilot test, according to a document published by the U.K. government.

Engadget reports that the document is a consultation created to encourage drone research by the private sector, but keep hobbyist drone operators "in check," according to the report. 

The proposals include an online registration for UAVs weighing 250 grams (0.55 pounds) or more before the first flight of the aircraft. The document states that the proposal "is intended to set in place the foundation for a future framework for drone regulation; create a culture of accountability among drone users; aid enforcement; and enable direct targeting of leisure drone users on the law and safe flying. The large data sets this policy would produce will also be used to inform future policy-making and risk assessments.

The document also proposes pilot competency, training and licensing. "This is a proposal to establish a clear and sophisticated framework of standards of pilot competency and qualifications for all operations, anticipated to be mostly commercial, to reflect the increasing diversity and varying levels of complexity in these operations, taking a risk-based approach and potentially in future enable repeat commercial operations if carried out by suitable qualified pilots.

"This would be undertaken while collaborating internationally to develop a common standard for a formal remote pilot’s licence, for future drone complex operations that go beyond visual line of sight. This proposal is intended to allow safely and securely for more complex operations to proceed, give certainty to business and users regarding appropriate competency qualifications and further the establishment of a drone pilot profession."

The consultation states that: "The Government believes having a clearer and more extensive set of competency standards would provide clarity for businesses as to the level of qualification they should expect from pilots for different types of operation, and solidify safety and competency standards across the sector. A set of common standards could also be used in future to streamline the application process to the CAA when asking for permission to test certain uses of drones or undertake a commercial use of a drone."

The test may be voluntary, or might be made mandatory.

None of the proposals has been finalized. "This consultation sets out some of the next steps under consideration for doing so. As the technology and market opportunities develop, we want to proactively address these challenges, and support the growing and changing UK drones services industry," the document states.

(Image from file)

FMI: Full Consultation Report