Lords ask how drone use can be effectively regulated
On Monday 27 October the Lords committee investigating the civilian use of drones will hear from drone operators and developers.
The House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on the Internal Market, Infrastructure and Employment is looking at the civilian use of drones in the EU, and the legislation that surrounds them.
Next week the Committee will ask industry representatives as well as aerospace stakeholders whether regulations surrounding the civil use of drones is working, how data protection laws might need to change, and finally whether large drones and small drones might need some form of licensing or registration.
On Monday at 4.15pm the committee will hear from Dr Sue Wolfe, Callen Lenz; a representative from Thales UK, and Ray Mann, National Aeronautical Centre.
Then at 5.15pm further evidence will be heard from Captain Andy Brown, Chairman of RPAS Working Group, British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), Gary Clayton, Chairman, UAVS Group; and Professor Keith Hayward, Royal Aeronautical Society.
Questions the witnesses will face on Monday include:
- How should drone regulation tackle potential infringements in relation to data protection and privacy?
- Should small drones be subject to a registration scheme?
- Similarly, what do you think of the suggestion that large drones might need a sort of pilot's licence?
- Is the lack of adequate regulation to blame for delayed investment by industry?
- What are the key technologies that need to be developed to encourage more use of large drones?
The evidence session will start at 4.15pm on Monday 27 October in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.
The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
