But Leader Of EP Effort Says Industry, Other Countries Needs To Take A Larger Role

The member of the European Parliament who spearheaded the creation of a risk-based framework resolution on UAVs says the industry and other countries need to take a larger role in the creation of rules.

Speaking at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems Europe convention in Brussels, EP member Jacqueline Foster (pictured) said that there should be an international approach to UAV regulations. The rule should not be just for the EU, she said.

Foster said that regulations need to be "risk-based" so that there is "enough flexibility to make sure we benefit from how this moves forward. Otherwise, Asia is going to be steaming ahead while we are sitting here figuring out what’s going to be in the next line of the regulation.”

She also said that privacy concerns need to be addressed in any regulations.

Writing the regulations will fall to EASA. That agency's communications director, Trevor Woods, said that the agency knows that it must maintain safety, but "can’t issue so many regulations that the industry can’t fly.

“We want a low regulatory burden, so the approach we use is as light as we can achieve with the right safety level,” he said. “We would like to use a risk-based approach.”

He added that EASA wants to make use of industry standards because "“industry is innovating the technology. Industry should be able to help to put together those standards.”

The remarks came on the opening day of the program in Brussels, the same day that terrorists attacked the Brussels airport and a subway station. AUVSI said on their website that the second day's program will be cut short due to the attacks in that city.

(Source: AUVSI blog. Image from Facebook)

FMI: www.auvsi.org/blogs/auvsi-news/2016/03/22/usedayone