Brussels is considering new requirements for unmanned aviation. Switzerland is participating for the time being, but has wrested exceptions from Brussels.
The EU Commission also wants to coordinate many drones without accidents: In 2021, Tourism Ireland will let 500 drones dance on St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin.
“Drone technology has evolved rapidly in recent years, from gimmicks and experimental flying objects to sophisticated robotic birds that assist us in incredible ways,” says Adina Valean. She is the EU Commissioner for Transport and has the youngest on Tuesday drone strategy presented to their authority. This is also relevant for Switzerland, as the Federal Council recently decided to adopt the relevant EU regulations.
Measures against drone attacks
In the 25-page paper Brussels presents 19 measures that set the regulatory direction for drone flying in the EU. Roughly speaking, the authority wants to ensure that one day drones, air taxis and similar vehicles will be seamlessly integrated into the airspace that is now used almost exclusively by aircraft. However, to ensure that this does not become a dangerous mess and to keep the risk of accidents low, the Commission wants additional rules. The Brussels rule of thumb is: the more risky a drone is, the more it and its pilot are regulated.
The EU Commission is working on a “tailor-made, fully digital and automated traffic management system” called U-Space. This is to be combined with conventional air traffic management, i.e. with the systems with which aircraft are coordinated and flown past one another at airports and in the air.
Today, certain drone operators also have to meet the same requirements as large commercial airlines. That should change. A “smaller” license could be sufficient for unmanned aircraft in the future.
Brussels also wants to have landing sites certified, and pilots are likely to receive additional and more comprehensive training. In addition to various research grants, the commission is also planning measures (counter-drone package) to reduce the chances of success of terrorist attacks with drones, for example on critical infrastructure.
Thanks to the model pilot compromise, Switzerland adopts the rules
Only a few days ago, Switzerland and the EU updated the joint aviation agreement in this area, despite faltering talks on the bilateral relationship. From 2023, Switzerland will adopt the EU’s drone regulations. This means, for example, that pilots of drones that are heavier than 250 grams or have a camera must obtain a certificate through an examination. The EU recognizes the Swiss license for this. In addition, there are maximum flight altitudes, weight limits and area restrictions, such as the Federal Office for Aviation writes.
Switzerland has also achieved success in the dossier. After this Model pilot protests prevented earlier adoption of the rules, they have now been provided with far-reaching exceptions. Little is changing for model flight, writes the Swiss Model Flight Association in one Message to.