Flying under the radar? Lords ask if drones legislation needs updating
On Monday 20 October the Lords investigation into the civil use of drones continues with evidence from air traffic authorities and drone safety experts.
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 expects to report back by early 2015.
On Monday at 4.15pm the committee will hear from Andre Clot, Centre Director, European Unmanned Systems Centre; Simon Hocquard, Operations Director from NATS; and Gerry Corbett, UAS Programme Lead, Intelligence, Strategy and Policy, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Questions the witnesses will face on Monday include:
- Is new EU-wide legislation needed in the first place?
- Is the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems a more preferable body than the European Aviation Safety Agency to regulate the use of drones in Europe?
- How will national civil aviation authorities cope with managing new regulation?
- What are the implications of drones for air traffic control radar?
- Could the certification and accreditation of drones and their users be done by the private sector rather than state bodies?
- How will “hobby” users be affected by new regulation?
- Do drones side-step current data protection legislation?
- If so, what should be done about that?
The evidence session will start at 4.15pm on Monday 20 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.
