Regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The use of
unmanned aerial vehicles 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 controller ...
(UAVs) or Drones, is generally regulated by the
civil aviation authority A civil aviation authority (CAA) is a national or supranational statutory authority that oversees the regulation of civil aviation, including the maintenance of an aircraft register. Role Due to the inherent dangers in the use of flight vehicles, ...
of the country. Nevertheless, the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international a ...
began exploring the use of drone technology as far back as 2005, which resulted in a 2011 report. France was among the first countries to set a national framework based on this report and larger aviation bodies such as the
FAA The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
and the
EASA The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) with responsibility for civil aviation safety. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs investigation and monitori ...
quickly followed suit, which eventually led to influential regulations such a
Part 107
an
Regulation (EU) 2019/947
As of January 2022, several countries are working on new regulations, ranging from BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight, or BLOS) operations to UTM (unmanned traffic management) activities, which include the US, the EU, India, South Korea, Japan, and Australia among others.


Certification aspects

One of the main barriers to rapid full-scale growth of commercial unmanned aircraft is the concern for safety. As myriad certification agencies scramble to keep up with the unique demands of this fast-growing industry, one thing is clear – where applicable, pertinent certification standards for manned aircraft are starting to apply. For the complex electronics that provide communication and control of these systems, this means a swift move towards compliance with
DO-178C DO-178C, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification is the primary document by which the certification authorities such as FAA, EASA and Transport Canada approve all commercial software-based aerospace systems. The do ...
and
DO-254 RTCA DO-254 / EUROCAE ED-80, Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware is a document providing guidance for the development of airborne electronic hardware, published by RTCA, Incorporated and EUROCAE. The DO-254/ED-80 standard w ...
for software and hardware development. In most cases, the unmanned aircraft (UA) can only be operated as part of a system, hence the term “unmanned aircraft system” (UAS). The UAS consists of an UA, a remote pilot station and the command, control and communications links that join them; as such, safety considerations address all of these elements. In 2011, the
International Civil Aviation Organization The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international sc ...
(ICAO) of the United Nations published Circular 328, which states that a UAS should demonstrate equivalent levels of safety as manned aircraft and thus meet relevant government rules for flight and flight equipment. The ICAO further distinguishes between ''autonomous aircraft'' and ''remotely-piloted aircraft'' (RPA), and anticipates that only RPA "will be able to integrate into the international civil aviation system in the foreseeable future". The year 2021 was a rather influential year for drone regulation for the drone industry given the regulations that would finally enter into force. Starting on December 31, 2020
new regulations took effect
in the European Union whereby the first step for a drone operator/ remote pilot would be to register in the country in which they live, or have their main place of business. EASA also issued guidelines for th
management of drone incidents at airports
an
rules for air traffic management
would also kick in as of July 1, 2021. Meanwhile, the FAA announced new rules for remote identification, and operations over people.


By country or region

The
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
sees benefits and challenges for civilian drones, and in 2014 proposed a set of regulations to control the effects of drones on peoples' safety, security and privacy. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Advisory Group was set up in 2015 by the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
’ civil aviation arm to draw up global rules and regulations for the safe use of unmanned aircraft. The team comprises countries such as the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
,
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
and
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, as well as industry bodies like the global pilots' association. In December 2017, the
International Air Transport Association The International Air Transport Association (IATA ) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff ...
(IATA), a global airline trade body, pressed governments to ensure enforcement of regulations to curb reckless and dangerous flying of recreational drones.


Australia

In 2013, a
Civil Aviation Safety Authority The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is the Australian national authority for the regulation of civil aviation. Although distinct from the government, it reports to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. CASA is responsibl ...
(CASA) spokesman said that those operating remotely piloted aircraft should keep them at least away from structures, buildings and people, and to check with the local council where they could be used. CASA regulations require that UAVs be at least 30m from people and shouldn't be operated in a way that creates a hazard.


Brazil

In 2017, the National Civil Aviation Agency regulated the operation of drones through the Brazilian Special Civil Aviation Regulation No. 94/2017 (RBAC-E No. 94/2017). ANAC's regulation complements the drone operating rules established by the Airspace Control Department (DECEA) and the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL).


Canada

In 2016
Transport Canada Transport Canada (french: Transports Canada) is the department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of road, rail, marine and air transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportati ...
proposed the implementation of new regulations that would require all drones over 250 grams to be registered and insured and that operators would be required to be a minimum age and pass an exam in order to get a license. These regulations were introduced in 2019.


France

Overflights of nuclear power plants are illegal in France, with a punishment of a year in prison and a fine of €75,000 if an aircraft comes within 5 km horizontally or 1 km vertically of a plant.


Hong Kong

While
no-fly zone A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ), is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in an enemy power's te ...
s have been declared in
Victoria Harbour Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour in Hong Kong separating Hong Kong Island in the south from the Kowloon Peninsula to the north. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on South China Sea were instrumental i ...
, country parks, the airport, military sites, prisons and in government-run leisure facilities, it was reported that rules were rarely enforced or observed. The
Hong Kong government The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, commonly known as the Hong Kong Government or HKSAR Government, refers to the Executive (government), executive authorities of Hong Kong Special administrative regions of China, ...
is proposing to introduce regulations that will broadly follow American standards, which might require all drones above a certain weight to be registered. Information would then made available to law enforcement authorities, and failure to register and tag a drone could be punishable by a US$250,000 (HK$1.95 million) fine or up to three years in jail. A short public consultation on the matter is set to be conducted by the first quarter of 2018, and to finish by mid-2018.


India

Permission from WPC is required for importing any radio controlled equipments in India, including drones/UAV. Drones imported into India, without prior permission from WPC and DGCA, will be confiscated by Customs at point of entry. Drones above 2 kg also requires Air Defense clearance( Flight permit); and drone pilot who is least 18 years old, and has completed the 'drone pilot training'. DGCA has on August 27, 2018, issued finalised drone guidelines. The regulations come into force from December 1, 2018. Under the regulations, drones are restricted items and cannot be carried in hand baggage. All drone operations are restricted to daylight and within visual line of sight. However, shooting in well-lit enclosed premises using micro drone up to 200 ft is permitted even after sunset.


Indonesia

In 2015, the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation's Directorate General of Civil Aviation published a rule that regulates the usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the Indonesian Airspace. The rule states that UAVs should not fly above the altitude of 150m and should not fly inside restricted or prohibited area, and areas around airports. UAVs that require altitudes higher than 150m would require a written authorization from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Additionally, UAVs equipped with imaging equipment should not fly within 500m from the border of restricted or prohibited area, and if the UAV is involved in imaging activities, the operator should have written permission from the local government. Special UAVs equipped with farming equipment such as seed spreader or insecticide spray should only operate in farmland, and should not operate within 500m of housing area. Instead of NFZ (
No-fly zone A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ), is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in an enemy power's te ...
) and No-Drone Zone (Airspace around airport at radius of 5 miles), there is a local regulation called KKOP (''Kawasan Keselamatan Operasi Penerbangan''). Refer to one of Indonesian Remote Pilot Certified and Activist, Arya Dega, the KKOP is a UAV restricted area that not included in NDZ or NFZ. I.e.: Presidencial Palace, Government Building, some of
Hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...
, and
Military Facility A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. A military base always provides accommodations for ...
.


Japan

On 11 September 2015, an amendment to the Aeronautical Act was issued to introduce safety rules on unmanned aircraft (UA)/drones. The new regulations came into effect on 10 December 2015. According to the
Civil Aviation Bureau The is the civil aviation authority of Japan and a division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Its head office is in the MLIT building in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is the Japanese equivalent of the U.S ...
in
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, the term “UA/drone”s refers to any airplane, rotorcraft, glider or airship which cannot accommodate any person on board and can be remotely or automatically piloted (excluding those lighter than 200 grams, inclusive of the battery weight.) Any person who intends to operate a UA/drones in the following airspace is required to obtain special permission from the
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism The is a member of the Cabinet of Japan and is the leader and chief executive of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The minister is also a statutory member of the National Security Council, and is nominated by the Prime M ...
. *(A) All airspace above or around airports,
heliport A heliport is a small airport suitable for use by helicopters and some other vertical lift aircraft. Designated heliports typically contain one or more touchdown and liftoff areas and may also have limited facilities such as fuel or hangars. I ...
s and
aerodrome An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publ ...
s. (airspace above the OLS, obstacle limitation surfaces.) *(B) All airspace 150 meters above ground/water surface. *(C) All airspace above Densely Inhabited Districts (DID), which are defined and published by the
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications The is a cabinet-level ministry in the Government of Japan. Its English name was Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT) prior to 2004. It is housed in the 2nd Building of the Central Common Government Of ...
. (i.e.
urban area An urban area, built-up area or urban agglomeration is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities, t ...
and
suburb A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
, so only
rural area In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are descri ...
is allowed) When no permission is required from the minister, or obtained permission by extremely troublesome procedures, anyone should operate UA/drones in the daytime and within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS). Video telecontrol or automated flight is prohibited. A 30-meters operating distance have to be maintained between the UA/drones and persons or properties on the ground/water surface. UA/drones should not be operated over event sites where many people gather. UA/drones should not carry hazardous materials such as combustible or explosives (except one for power source). Objects should not be dropped off from UA/drones other than touching down the ground. These restrictions can be granted by special permission from the minister. Furthermore, for security reasons, anyone cannot levitate any flying object including UA/drones, aeroballoons, gliders,
flyboard A Flyboard is a brand of hydroflighting device which supplies propulsion to drive the Flyboard into the air to perform a sport known as hydroflying.ExamplesFlyboard Ultimate SupercutPower Board Expert. A Flyboard rider stands on a board connec ...
s and
jet pack A jet pack, rocket belt, or rocket pack is a device worn on the back which uses jets of gas or liquid to propel the wearer through the air. The concept has been present in science fiction for almost a century and became widespread in the 1960s. ...
s within about 300 meters from the
National Diet Building The is the building where both houses of the National Diet, National Diet of Japan meet. It is located at Nagatachō, Tokyo, Nagatachō 1-chome 7–1, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Sessions of the House of Representatives (Japan), House of Representatives ta ...
, the official residents of speakers of the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
and the
House of Councillors The is the upper house of the National Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, ...
, the
Prime Minister's Official Residence The Prime Minister's Official Residence is the official workplace and residence of the Prime Minister of Japan. It is commonly referred to as , , or simply . Located at 2-3-1 Nagata-chō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100–8968, it is diagonally adjacen ...
, the
Kasumigaseki Kasumigaseki (霞が関, 霞ヶ関 or 霞ケ関) is a district in Chiyoda Ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is the location of most of Japan's cabinet ministry offices. The name is often used as a metonym for the Japanese government bureaucracy, whi ...
s, the
Supreme court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
,
Tokyo Imperial Palace The is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in the Chiyoda district of the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo and contains several buildings including the where the Emperor has his living quarters, the where va ...
(including Akasaka Imperial Residences), the main offices of political parties, the
diplomatic mission A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually deno ...
offices,
nuclear power plants A nuclear power plant (NPP) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a generator that produces elec ...
and other nuclear facilities, as well as buildings used for inter-governmental political forum such as
Group of Seven The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States; additionally, the European Union (EU) is a "non-enumerated member". It is official ...
temporarily. UA/drones will be radio-controlled, so one should follow the Japan Radio Act exactly. Flying UA/drones above some parks, coasts and
port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...
s including
Tottori Sand Dunes The are sand dunes located outside the city center of Tottori in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. At a length of and less than wide, it is the largest sand dune in Japan. The sand dunes are part of San'in Kaigan Geopark, which is part of The UN ...
is restricted by the
by-law A by-law (bye-law, by(e)law, by(e) law), or as it is most commonly known in the United States bylaws, is a set of rules or law established by an organization or community so as to regulate itself, as allowed or provided for by some higher authorit ...
s in some
prefectures of Japan Japan is divided into 47 prefectures (, ''todōfuken'', ), which rank immediately below the national government and form the country's first level of jurisdiction and administrative division. They include 43 prefectures proper (, ''ken''), two ...
. Like many other countries, it is a kind of
trespass Trespass is an area of tort law broadly divided into three groups: trespass to the person, trespass to chattels, and trespass to land. Trespass to the person historically involved six separate trespasses: threats, assault, battery, wounding ...
to fly UA/drones indoors, near above the dwellings, or near above its surrounding soil without the permission of a person with legitimate rights.


Malaysia

Any person in charge of a small unmanned aircraft with a mass of 20 kilograms or less may fly the aircraft without approval from the
Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia ( Abbreviation: CAAM, Malay: ''Pihak Berkuasa Penerbangan Awam Malaysia''), previously known as the Department of Civil Aviation (Abbreviation: DCA, Malay: ''Jabatan Penerbangan Awam''), is a government ...
as long as “he is satisfied that the flight can safely be made”.


Myanmar

In November 2017,
Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
sentenced three journalists and their driver to two months’ imprisonment for operating a drone near parliament while shooting a documentary. While Myanmar has no specific law on drones, individual authorities have tried to restrict the use of such equipment over their premises.


The Philippines

In 2015, the
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP, ; fil, Pangasiwaan sa Abyasyong Sibil ng Pilipinas) is the civil aviation authority of the Philippines and is responsible for implementing policies on civil aviation to assure safe, econo ...
(CAAP) announced that owners or operators of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) who will operate the drones for commercial purposes must register with the CAAP, and secure a certification. Commercial uses include filming, aerial mapping, surveying and other revenue purposes. For operations specifically for model, sports, hobby and recreational activities, authorisation from the CAAP is not required. All operations of UAVs in Philippine airspace have to comply with the general guidelines stated in Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations Part 11.11.1.2 (General UAV Operations). The UAV must be flown: * 30 meters beyond a person who is not directly associated with the operation of the UAV; * An altitude not exceeding 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL); * Outside 10 km radius from the Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP); and * The UAV shall stay clear of populated area unless an approval from the CAAP has been granted.


Republic of Ireland

In 2012, the
Irish Aviation Authority The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) ( ga, Údaras Eitlíochta na hÉireann) is a commercial semi-state company in Republic of Ireland, Ireland responsible for the regulation of safety aspects of air travel. It is also responsible for providing air ...
published a document setting out safety requirements for any unmanned aerial system. The IAA policy is that unmanned aerial systems may not be flown without the operator receiving a specific permission from the IAA. New regulations, including a registry of UAVs over 1 kg were introduced in December 2015.


Singapore

In
Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
, laws were passed in
Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
in May 2015 to allay concerns over safety, security and privacy surrounding unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Unmanned Aircraft (Public Safety and Security) Bill outlines regulations for the safe flying of drones and enforcement action against errant users. For instance, permits are required to fly drones above 7 kg, or within a 5 km radius of an aerodrome. Before conducting any outdoor activities, operators should ensure that the UA is flown within the permitted areas. The
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is Singapore's civil aviation authority and a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Government of Singapore. Its head office is located on the fourth storey of Singapore Chan ...
(CAAS) website provides a map delineating prohibited areas, danger and restricted areas, areas within 5 km of an airport or an airbase and protected areas. In general, permits are not required for recreational or research uses of UA in Singapore, as long as the operation of the UA is in line with CAAS’ operating conditions. Situations where recreational or research uses of UA require a permit are when: * The total mass of UA including payload exceeds 7 kg (Operator permit and Class 1 Activity Permit required) * UA is flown higher than 200 feet above mean sea level (Class 2 Activity Permit required) * Within restricted, danger, protected, prohibited areas and within 5 km of an aerodrome / airbase (Class 2 Activity Permit required) Regardless of UA weight or location of UA operations, an operator permit and a Class 1 Activity Permit is required for operations that are non-recreational or non-research in nature. The permit application form can be found on th
CAAS website
Depending on the nature of the flight or UA used, other possible permits that may be required from other agencies include: *
Singapore Police Force The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is the national and principal law enforcement agency responsible for the prevention of crime and law enforcement in the Republic of Singapore. It is the country's lead agency against organised crime; human, wea ...
(SPF) for aerial photography and/or overflight of security-sensitive locations *
Info-communications Media Development Authority The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is a statutory board under the Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI). History Following the passing of the Info-communications Media Development Authority Bill in Parliame ...
(IMDA) of Singapore for use of radio frequencies and power limits other than in IMDA's guidelines for short range devices. From February 1, 2021, anyone using a UAV needs to obtain an unmanned aircraft basic training certificate (UABTC) or unmanned aircraft pilot licence (UAPL). Without a UABTC, UAPL, activity/operator permit during checks by Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore enforcement officers, he or she can face S$20,000 for their first offence. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to S$40,000 and/or up to 15 months’ jail.


South Africa

In April 2014, the
South African Civil Aviation Authority The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA or CAA) is the civil aviation authority of South Africa, overseeing civil aviation and governing investigations of aviation accidents and incidents. It is headquartered in the Ikhaya Lokundiza Buil ...
announced that it would clamp down on the illegal flying of UAVs in South African airspace. They also stated that as they had not authorised any such flights, existing ones were being done illegally. A growth in the use of UAVs had prompted the SACAA to integrate them into South African airspace, but until regulations were in place, people operating them could be fined up to R50,000 and face up to 10 years prison. Following discussions between the South African Civil Aviation Authority and key role players such as operators, manufacturers and other airspace users, a set of draft regulations were submitted to the Minister of Transport for review and approval. The regulations were accepted by Dipuo Peters, the South African transport minister, and put into effect 1 July 2015. The regulations are called the Eighth Amendment of the South African Civil Aviation Regulations, 2015 The new regulations focus strongly on safety aspects with UAVs not being allowed to fly higher than 120m or closer than 50 meters to a person or group of people without prior approval from the SACAA. Airspace restrictions also apply above and adjacent to: * Nuclear plants * Prisons * Police stations * Crime scenes * Court of law * National key points Manned aircraft always have the right of way and the passing of UAVs close to such aircraft are strictly prohibited. Pilots are required to tune into the air traffic services in which they are flying and all flight activity are required to be recorded in a logbook. Public roads may also not be used for take-off and landing. Another safety aspect prohibits UAVs to be used in adverse weather conditions where visibility will be impaired. Separate approval is required where line of sight is unmanageable or for night flying. Current regulations do not allow UAVs to be used for deliveries or for the transportation of goods. From a hobbyist point of view UAVs cannot tow other aircraft, perform aerobatic and aerial displays or be flown in a formation. UAV pilots are required to have a CAA approved and valid pilot licence and a letter of approval which is valid for 12 months. Any incidents should be reported to the relevant authorities, especially if serious damage or injury was caused.


South Korea

Under the local law as of 2016, drones are banned from many places in the country, especially from the northern parts of
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
, where key government offices are clustered. Areas around military installations and nuclear power plants are also
no-fly zone A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ), is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in an enemy power's te ...
s.


Thailand

All type of drones, except toy drones that are under 250 grams, have to be registered with the
Civil Aviation Authority A civil aviation authority (CAA) is a national or supranational statutory authority that oversees the regulation of civil aviation, including the maintenance of an aircraft register. Role Due to the inherent dangers in the use of flight vehicles, ...
. The regulations cover nearly all forms of drone use from commercial and recreational to scientific. Drone users who failed to register their drones by 9 January 2018 could face up to five years in jail or a 100,000 baht (US$3100) fine.


United Kingdom

In August 2012, The U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) stated that it will require non-military drones larger than 20 kg to be able to automatically sense other aircraft and steer to avoid them. As of 2013, the CAA rules are that UAV aircraft less than 20 kilograms in weight must be in direct visual contact with the pilot, cannot fly within 150 meters of a congested area or within 50 meters of a person or vehicle, and cannot be used for commercial activity.Sclesinger, Fay (16 March 2013) "Animal activists to use drones in fight against illegal hunting" The Times, Page 17'
subscription required
/ref> In July 2018, the CAA rules were updated to make it against the law to fly above and to make it against the law to fly your drone within of an airport or airfield boundary. On February 20, 2019, The
Department for Transport The Department for Transport (DfT) is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have not been devolved. The d ...
announced a new
legislation Legislation is the process or result of enrolled bill, enrolling, enactment of a bill, enacting, or promulgation, promulgating laws by a legislature, parliament, or analogous Government, governing body. Before an item of legislation becomes law i ...
to extend the ‘no-fly’ zone around airports, banning drones from flying within of runways. Owners of drones and model aircraft are required to register their drone and obtain an 'Operator ID' and 'Flyer ID', all of which can be obtained by taking and passing an online theory test provided by the CAA. Children and teenagers under the age of 18 are not authorised to register a UAV, nor hold an Operator ID, but can receive a Flyer ID for a UAV owned by their parents or legal guardian by passing the same theory test. Operator IDs must be renewed each year, while Flyer IDs last for three years. Once a drone or model aircraft is registered and its operator passes the theory test, the owner's Operator ID must be displayed when in operation.


United States

The US
Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...
has adopted the name ''unmanned aircraft'' (UA) to describe aircraft systems without a flight crew on board. To operate a UA for non-recreational purposes in the United States, according to the FAA users must obtain a ''Certificate of Authorization'' to operate in national airspace. The FAA may permit the use of UAs for commercial or business purposes in response to individual exemption requests. Within the United States, the Congress passed a bill in 2012 that mandated the FAA create a plan for allowing UAS into commercial airspace. Subsequently, the FAA issued “the Integration of Civil Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) Roadmap”. , obtaining an experimental airworthiness certificate for a particular UAS is the only way ''civil operators'' of unmanned aircraft are accessing the
National Airspace System The National Airspace System (NAS) is the airspace, navigation facilities and airports of the United States along with their associated information, services, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, personnel and equipment. It includes components ...
of the United States. FAA Order 8130.34, ''Airworthiness Certification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems'', establishes procedures for issuing this certification, and as such establishes guidance standards for certification aspects of development and operation, which may be addressed by adoption of such standards as ARP4754A, and
DO-178C DO-178C, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification is the primary document by which the certification authorities such as FAA, EASA and Transport Canada approve all commercial software-based aerospace systems. The do ...
. The FAA roadmap is, in essence, maturation of the acceptance of UAVs from this “experimental” aircraft certification to requiring the same standard airworthiness
type certification A type certificate signifies the airworthiness of a particular category of aircraft, according to its manufacturing design (''type design''). It confirms that the aircraft of a new type intended for serial production, is in compliance with applica ...
of manufacturing design as is now required of conventional manned aircraft. In December 2015 the FAA announced that all UAVs weighing more than 250 grams flown for any purpose must be registered with the FAA. The FAA's Interim Rule can b
accessed here
This regulation goes into effect on December 21, 2015, and requires that hobby type UAV's between 250 grams and 55 pounds need to be registered no later than February 19, 2016. The FAA's registration portal for drones can b
accessed here
Notable requirements of the new FAA UAV registration process include: * Effective December 21, 2015, if the UAV has never been operated in U.S. airspace (i.e. its first flight outside), eligible owners must register their UAV's prior to flight. If the UAV previously operated in U.S. airspace, it must be registered by February 19, 2016. * In order to use the registration portal, you must be 13 years of age or older. If the owner is less than 13 years old, then a parent or other responsible person must do the FAA registration. * Each registrant will receive a certificate of aircraft registration and a registration number and all UAV's must be marked with the FAA issued registration number. * The FAA registration requires a $5 fee, though the FAA is waiving the fee for the first 30 days of the new registration period - until January 20, 2016. The registration is good for 3 years, but can be renewed for an additional 3 years at the $5 rate. The new FAA rule provides that a single registration applies to as many UAVs as an owner/operator owns or operates. Failure to register can result in civil penalties of up to $27,500, and criminal penalties which could include fines up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years. To show problems with the FAA process, in August, 2015 an attorney was able to get FAA approval for a commercial drone that was actually a battery powered paper airplane toy. Its controllable range is and maximum flight time is 10 minutes. It is too underpowered to carry a camera. The December 2015 registration specifically excludes paper airplanes, Frisbees, and other flying objects that are not true UAVs. In addition to FAA certification, the regulation of usage of UA systems by government authorities in the United States for law enforcement purposes is determined at a state level. In 2021, the FAA officially published and put into effect
Remote ID Remote ID, or formally Part 89 in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft, is a United States regulation instituted by the Federal Aviation Administration that requires unmanned aerial systems (UAS ...
regulations, officially requiring all drones above 250g in mass and all drones flown for commercial purposes to have a digital license plate which, in real time, publicly transmits the location of both the drone and the operator (in most cases). Within the first half of 2021, ''
RaceDayQuads v. FAA ''RaceDayQuads, LLC v. FAA'', also known as ''Brennan v. Dickson'', was a 2022 United States court case heard in the DC Federal Court of Appeals in which the online store RaceDayQuads attempted to challenge the constitutionality and legali ...
'' was filed, challenging the law in
US Federal Court The federal judiciary of the United States is one of the three branches of the federal government of the United States organized under the United States Constitution and laws of the federal government. The U.S. federal judiciary consists primari ...
, with RaceDayQuads founder primarily claiming the law allows for the invasion of privacy to drone operators, opens them up to the profiting of their activity by security companies, and would increase harassment of UAV operators.


Uruguay

In 2014, the government regulated UAVs. Machines under 25 kg do not require any operating licence, and have a maximum flight altitude of 120 meters within visual line of sight. Machines up to 260 kg must be registered, require an operator permit, and may have above 120 meters with permission from air traffic control. Machines above 260 kg are classified as aircraft, and require a full pilot licence.Aumentan "pilotos" uruguayos de drones, la mayoría "irregulares"
- Juan Pablo de Marco, El País, 26 December 2017


See also

*


References


External links


UK CAA Regulations and Overview

South African Civil Aviation Authority

Civil Aviation Association of Singapore
{{Authority control
UAV 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 controller ...