Pilots call for strict drone safeguards to be put in place
UK pilots have called for strict drone safeguards to be put in place, fearful that a new generation of large-scale pilotless aircraft could prove a hazard in the skies.
Balpa, the pilots association, warns current rules are not up to the job of regulating the rise of remotely controlled aircraft and are not scalable to the commercial cargo operations now being actively explored by the likes of Amazon.
Existing drones are generally small scale devices operated by enthusiasts, TV companies, police and surveyors but these could be joined by fleets small commercially operated passenger planes within a decade.
Balpa are seeking assurances that these operations will be regulated to the same standards as existing piloted services.
Jim McAuslan, Balpa’s general secretary, said: "The UK should become a 'safe drone zone' so we can make the most of the major business and leisure opportunities offered by remotely piloted aircraft, while protecting passengers, pilots and residents.
"Large unmanned aircraft, when they come, should be as safe as manned aircraft and the British public should be fully consulted before companies fly large, remotely-piloted aircraft over their homes alongside passenger planes."