In May 2012, the
Irish Aviation Authority
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) ( ga, Údaras Eitlíochta na hÉireann) is a commercial semi-state company in Ireland responsible for the regulation of safety aspects of air travel. It is also responsible for providing air traffic control serv ...
published a document setting out safety requirements for any
unmanned aerial system
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controlle ...
, regardless of mass.
An appendix contained an application form to apply to operate a UAS.
The only previous legislation had been the "Irish Aviation Authority (Rockets and Small Aircraft) Order, 2000".
[ Where such a craft is to be used for commercial work, the operator must apply for an aerial work permission from the IAA.][ Flying UAS outside the direct, unaided line of sight of the operator is not allowed for safety reasons.][ It is not permitted to use vision-enhancing systems, such as ]first-person view
First-person view (FPV), also known as remote-person view (RPV), or simply video piloting, is a method used to control a radio-controlled vehicle from the driver or pilot's view point. Most commonly it is used to pilot a radio-controlled aircraf ...
.[
On 15 November 2012, the Irish Aviation Authority introduced a requirement that remotely piloted aircraft needed to be registered to comply with Statutory Instrument 634 or 2005 "Nationality and Registration of Aircraft" Order.]Irish Times
''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
reported that the Irish Aviation Authority had issued permits to 22 operators to use UAVs in the Republic, as opposed to 14 the year before.[
New regulations, including a registry of UAVs over 1 kg (35 oz) were introduced in December 2015.]
Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) and Rockets Order Statutory Instrument 563 of 2015
This statutory instrument prohibits UAVs from flying[
* in a manner that is a hazard to another flying aircraft
* in a manner that endangers life or property
* further than from the operator, more than from the ground or out of line of sight
* closer than to an aerodrome
* over urban areas
* over crowds
* within of any person, structure or vessel not under the operators' control
* over military bases or prisons
* in civil or military controlled airspace
The operator of a UAV of between shall not allow it to fly without taking a course approved by the IAA.][
The operator of a UAV of between shall not allow it to fly without permission from the IAA.][
A rocket may not be flown without supplying information to and receiving permission from the IAA.The operator of a UAV of between shall not allow it to fly without taking a course approved by the IAA.][
The order applies to:][
* UAVs of less than
* unmanned rockets of more than fuelled mass and more than of propellant
The order does not apply to:][
* fireworks launched under 400 ft altitude unless launched near an aerodrome
* to a rocket of or less propellant or slow-burning propellant made of paper, wood or frangible plastic that isn't operated in a manner hazardous to people, property or aircraft
* to UAVs of less than 1 kg (35 oz) without fuel or made of wood, paper or frangible plastic that is flown below 15m (50') altitude that isn't operated in a manner hazardous to people, property or aircraft
The instrument revokes the Irish Aviation Authority (Rockets and Small Aircraft) Order 2000, (S.I. No. 25 of 2000).]
See also
* Fireworks policy in the Republic of Ireland
References
{{Reflist
Aviation in the Republic of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...