LONDON: The United Kingdom’s pilots association, Balpa, has called for stern regulations before allowing large drones are allowed to appear in skies.
The Balpa further stated that the people should be protected against remotely-controlled drones sharing airspace with regular aircraft, saying, “Current rules on small drones cannot apply to commercial operators.”
Drones, which are officially known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), range in size from small craft operated by enthusiasts, TV companies, police forces and surveyors and weighing a few kilograms, to larger military devices.
Balpa says remote aircraft the same size as small passenger planes could be operated commercially in the UK within 10 years.
It says they must meet the same safety standards as piloted aircraft and tough security measures at ground level be in place to ensure they cannot be seized or their computer systems hacked. A full public consultation should also be carried out before government rules on larger commercial drones are introduced.
