The European Commission has announced that it has been working with the European Aviation Safety Agency to approve an implementing act and delegated regulation which will regulate the operations of unmanned aircraft systems in Europe and the registration of drone operators and of certified drones. This aims to ensure harmonised rules for the safe operation of drones and common European rules.
The delegated act defines the technical requirements for drones including the requirements for CE marking for unmanned aircraft systems in the open category. Following public consultation, the delegated regulation was adopted by the European Commission on 12 March 2019 and sent to the European Parliament and to the European Council for the mandatory two months scrutiny period.
If no objections are raised during that period, it will be published in the Official Journal and become gradually applicable (with all parts expected to be in force by 2022). Alternative means of compliance and guidance material is expected to be published shortly.
The development follows discussions about drones in the UK.
