Proposal Under Consideration Would Limit People Under 18 From Owning A Drone Over 0.55 Pounds

The U.K. Department of Transport has new drone rules under consideration that would ban people under 18 years old from owning a drone weighing more than 250 grams ... or 0.55 pounds.

Engadget reports that the proposal could allow youngsters to fly heavier drones under adult supervision if the aircraft is owned by and registered to an older person. The restriction is pegged to the age at which an insurance policy can be issued.

Other suggestions in the proposed bill that is targeted for implementation later this year are online safety tests and required registration for drones over 250 grams, as is required in the U.S. Police could be allowed to confiscate drones as TSA can now, and reckless pilots could be fined immediately when caught. The proposed rule also authorizes "counter-drone technology to protect public events and critical national infrastructure and stop contraband reaching prisons," and a requirement to file flight plans using apps before flight.

Current U.K. regulations allow for fines up up to £2,500 (approx. $3,280) and a prison sentence of up to five years for flying a drone above 400 feet and within about .5 nautical miles from an airport boundary. That rule went into effect July 30.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report