[PDF] The Regulation of Drones: an exploratory study - GOV.UK

The Regulation of Drones An exploratory study The Regulatory Horizons Council November 2021 The Regulation of Drones: An Exploratory Study 1 Contents Foreword 2

1. Executive summary 4
2. Introduction 8
3. Exam question and approach 16
4. Stakeholder perspectives 17
5. Future scenarios 33
6. Recommendations 38 Annexes 41 Annex A: Draft vision statement and principles for regulation 41 Annex B: Futures workshop - critical uncertainties, scenario hypothesis & implications 43 Annex C: Future scenarios in detail 47 Annex D: Fact finding exercise 51 Annex E: List of stakeholders 56 Annex F: RHC reflection 57 The Regulation of Drones: An Exploratory Study 2 Foreword This is an exciting time for the UK’s drone sector. The last 18 months have seen many great examples of ‘drones for good’ in our society reinforcing quite publicly the significant role that drones can play in saving lives and solving problems, as well as boosting our economy. We know from various UK and global drone market studies there is a big prize if we can drive new technology and business uptake, overcoming safety challenges and engaging end-users. For example, PWC forecast a potential £42 billion positive impact on the UK economy by 2030 if we get this right. Industry has been working closely with Government to help identify the barriers to realising this opportunity, and to determine the steps to overcome them. Through my role as Chair of the Drone Industry Action Group, I know the drone sector will warmly welcome this timely review from the Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC). We have been grateful for the opportunity to provide inputs and evidence to this report. Drone technology, powered by advances in robotics, battery power and artificial intelligence, is ‘on the cusp’ of delivering new breakthrough capabilities, and is seeing increasing levels of investment in the UK and overseas. A forward-looking regulatory regime will be critical to ensuring the UK can compete and succeed in this global opportunity. Businesses across the UK are developing and demonstrating new uses for drones, and it is good to see some examples included in this report. This reinforces the need to tackle the remaining barriers to realising the full extent of the business economic and social opportunities. Drone application opportunities exist across the globe. There is a real opportunity for the UK to assume a global technology lead on drones but more significantly, by leveraging the reputation and renowned expertise of our own Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), we can put the right regulatory framework in place that becomes the standard across the world. My own belief is we need to get this right for drones, or we will never reap the benefits of autonomous freight and passenger flight. We need to build on Government support from UKRI’s Future Flight, Connected Places Catapult’s Pathfinder and CAA’s sandbox programmes. And to grow the scale and scope of business-led demonstrators like th