Brussels, 16/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced on Thursday 12 March a new regulatory approach for drones. It follows the “concept of operation” which provides differing rules depending on use and the potential danger of each type of usage.
Three categories of operation have been defined by EASA. The first, an “open category”, is for the general public. It covers usage where the drone flies at heights of less than 150 metres and is never more than 500 metres from the operator, and is not close to certain zones, such as airports. Such relatively safe usage can be monitored by the police and will not need any authorisation from aeronautical authorities. However, their management requires communication between EASA and the member states to ensure the public is aware of potentially dangerous usages.
For operations of the second category, the “specific operation category”, authorisation will be required - either for the operation itself or for the operator if he/she conducts the operation on a regular basis. The authorisation could be delivered by the aeronautical authorities or by a dedicated body. Lastly, in the “certified category”, operations will be dealt with in the same way as for a piloted aeroplane. No information has been given on the criteria used to distinguish between the so-called “certified” category and the “specific operation” category.
EASA says that data protection concerns will be handled nationally. Putting in place this new approach will make the current division of responsibilities, which see the member states responsible for drones weighing less than 150 kg and the EU for those heavier than 150 kg (cf Annex 2 of Regulation 216/2008), obsolete.
The graduated approach, dependent on the type of risk, was called for at the high-level conference on drones in Riga on 5-6 March. The conclusions of that conference called for drones to be treated like a new kind of aeroplane, with proportionate rules based on the risk-level of each operation (see EUROPE 11269). EASA also confirmed the timetable announced at the conference, stating that it will make definite legislative proposals at the end of 2015. (Jean Comte)