NEWS

More protection for consumers, businesses, data, privacy and the environment in the use of drones in the EU.

The EU is negotiating its first common rules on the use of drones, which will allow drones of all sizes to fly safely in European airspace. These new measures will also provide clarity and coherence throughout Europe.

On 12 June, the full European Parliament backed in Strasbourg, France, these new air safety measures on drones.

Standards at European level, why are they necessary?

While heavy drones are governed by EU general aviation standards, unmanned aircraft weighing less than 150 kg are regulated nationally.

Having different and fragmented standards for each EU country complicates cross-border trade and is dangerous.

The use of drones involves a number of safety risks: they can damage other aircraft, cause injuries, cause air and noise pollution. In addition, drones with cameras can be intrusive and record personal data without consent.

What is a drone and how can it be used?

Drones are drones, originally developed for military use.

Now they are used for different activities, from photography and filming to rescue operations, pipe inspections and crop spraying.

What will be the news?

• The new EU rules will apply to all drones, and not just the biggest ones.
• Maximum heights and distances will be established for the use of drones to avoid endangering other airspace users and pedestrians.
• Access to specific geographic areas, such as airports, embassies, prisons and nuclear plants, will be restricted or prohibited.
• It will be mandatory to register all those drones whose impact may cause injuries, specifically all those that transfer more than 80 joules of kinetic energy at the moment of impact. This will allow you to identify them easily.
• Drones will have to be designed to minimize noise and air pollution.

EU drone market

The European drone sector is developing very fast. It is estimated that the sector will create more than 150,000 new jobs by 2050, according to data from the common company for the realization of the new generation European system for air traffic management (SESAR). It has also been estimated that in 10 years the drone industry could represent 10% of the total EU aviation market (around 15,000 million euros a year).

Next steps

Once the new legislation enters into force, the European Commission will work on more detailed rules through implementing acts.