UK House of Lords to Meet on Drones

A committee from the UK’s House of Lords will meet today with drone experts to discuss whether or not safety regulations require updating.

Along with safety concerns, issues of privacy and data protection will also be on the docket.

The meeting could not come at a better time, as drones have been making headlines all over the UK in the last few weeks.

It was recently reported that a drone nearly collided with a passenger aircraft at Southend Airport in Essex back in May and drones have been spotted flying over several sporting venues despite a clear ban on such activities by the CAA.

The British Airline Pilot’s Association (BALPA) has also been rather vocal lately, saying drones should meet the same safety standards as manned aircraft and their should be clear security measures on the ground to ensure drones cannot be sabotaged by insidious third parties.

“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,” BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslan told the BBC. “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.”