Drone licensing scheme to be launched
1 min read
A drone registration scheme, requiring owners to pass a safety test, is set to be launched in the UK.
The measures will tighten controls over the gadgets, which can currently be bought freely on the high street.
The Department for Transport said there is currently no time frame for implementing the new rules, and admitted that the "the nuts and bolts still have to be ironed out".
It added that drone owners would have to “prove that they understand UK safety, security and privacy regulations" as part of the test.
The Aviation Minister, Lord Martin Callanan, said: "Our measures prioritise protecting the public while maximising the full potential of drones.
"Increasingly, drones are proving vital for inspecting transport infrastructure for repair or aiding police and fire services in search and rescue operations, even helping to save lives.
"But like all technology, drones too can be misused. By registering drones and introducing safety awareness tests to educate users, we can reduce the inadvertent breaching of airspace restrictions to protect the public."
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
