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The House of Lords’ EU Committee has called for a tracking system for all drones and their users.
In its latest report, the Committee described drones, officially known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), as an “exciting new technology”.
However, the Committee warned that while the potential to create jobs and improve industry through drones was exciting for the UK, there were risks to manage too.
Committee chairman Baroness O’Cathain said: “The growth in civilian drone use has been astonishing and they are taking to the skies faster than anyone could have predicted.
“We have a huge opportunity to make Europe a world leader in drone technology. But there’s also a risk—public understanding of how to use drones safely may not keep pace with people’s appetite to fly them. It would just take one disastrous accident to destroy public confidence and set the whole industry back.”
The Committee said it supported the creation of an online database for commercial users of drones, but added that a system tracking all drones, including smaller RPAS, is necessary in the long-term to manage safety.
The Committee added: “We heard compelling arguments as to why the leisure use of RPAS presents risks to the general public and other airspace users.
Therefore, in the long term, we foresee the need for a system which can track and trace all RPAS, especially those flying below 500ft, irrespective of whether they are flown by commercial or leisure pilots.
“This will be essential not only to manage the increased traffic in the sky, but also to enforce existing and future laws governing RPAS use.”
It urged the Government, EU Commission and aviation industry to work with Nasa on developing a tracking system. There were also suggestions that geo-fencing technology – which powers down a drone when it enters restricted airspace – should be further explored and developed.
Last year, pilots of commercial airliners reported two separate near-miss incidents involving drones at Heathrow and Southend airports.
US retail giant Amazon has trialled using drones for delivery in the past, and could well return to the system in the future.
The Committee’s report, entitled Civilian Use of Drones in the EU, is a response to plans set out by the European Commission last year looking at how to make Europe a global leader in the drone industry.
The Committee warned that the misuse of drones by non-commercial users could pose a threat to the public’s confidence in the technology, and said police should be given guidance on how to apply drone safety legislation in the UK.
“Misuse of RPAS by leisure users could undermine public acceptance of this technology, potentially jeopardising the development of a commercial RPAS market,” said the Committee.
“In the short term, we support the UK Government’s plans to raise awareness of safety hazards associated with RPAS through the media and information leaflets at the point of sale.
“We endorse plans for a public consultation to gauge support for the increased civilian use of RPAS.
“In the long term, the police should have a greater role in enforcing existing legislation.”
The Committee also said advice on how to fly drones safely should be made available on websites and through social media.
Referring to the use of drones by journalists to report events, the Committee said guidance should be developed after a public consultation on appropriate use in these circumstances to ensure people do not have their privacy invaded.
