Is the World Ready for Drones?

Abstract

Verbatim from Semantic Scholar. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) are revolutionizing the world. RPA, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or ‘drones’ present many new opportunities for a diverse range of industries and practices. Drones are a new way for a closer societyaviation relationship, transportation of goods and data gathering. These opportunities present corresponding challenges: safety around people, infrastructure and other airspace users; privacy, and international uniformity. It is only a matter of time before drones will need integration with non-segregated airspace. Very soon drones could make international flights, particularly in regions with many countries in close proximity (e.g. Europe, South East Asia). Despite these exciting prospects, drone technology is outpacing national and international law. International aviation regulations are governed by the Chicago Convention 1944 and administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Countries around the world are waiting for the first drone Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) from ICAO due in 2018. In the meantime, countries have received from ICAO a 2011 Circular Advisory, the 2015 Manual on Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS’) and Annex 2 Appendix 4 of the Chicago Convention. Working with this limited guidance, research to date on New Zealand, the United States and Singapore demonstrates great divergence in regulatory approaches and overall shows current State drone regulations are inadequate or failing on the current concerns. Therefore, clear guidance and uniformity is needed from ICAO.

Author

• E. Macpherson

Keywords

• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Political Science
• Computer Science