Opening the European Union (EU) Aviation Market to the Civil and Commercial Use of Drones (RPAS)
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/9th May 2016, DRONE MARKET WATCHTM/ Civil aviation contributes to an integrated logistical transport chain that aims to better serve citizens and society. It adds value through offering fast, reliable and resilient connections in a global network. By 2050, a number of different aircraft categories are expected to be operating, diverse in size, performance and type, with some still having a pilot on board, but many remotely piloted or fully automated. Opening the European market for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) – or the civilian and commercial use of drones - is therefore an important step towards the aviation market of the future.
The European Summit of 19 December 2013 called for action to enable the progressive integration of RPAS into civil airspace from 2016 onwards. This Communication focuses on RPAS for civil and commercial use and responds to the call of the European manufacturing and service industry to remove barriers to the introduction of RPAS in the European single market.
RPAS form part of the wider category of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), which also includes aircraft that can be programmed to fly autonomously without the involvement of a pilot. RPAS, as the name suggests, are controlled by a pilot from a distance. RPAS technology has matured rapidly in past years and, like many other aircraft technologies before it, is ready to make the shift from being purely military equipment to becoming a reliable new technology for civil use. In order to produce their full potential, RPAS should be able to fly like 'normal' air traffic and be integrated among 'normally piloted' aircraft in nonsegregated airspace, i.e., airspace open to all civil air transport.
Member States are beginning to authorise RPAS operations in non-segregated airspace to respond to market demand. In the short term, the most promising market lies in areas such as infrastructure monitoring or photography; in a longer term future, it may be the transport of goods and eventually people.
This Communication sets out the Commission's views on how to address RPAS operations in a European level policy framework which will enable the progressive development of the commercial RPAS market while safeguarding the public interest. Understanding the direction for future regulatory developments is important for the European industry when it comes to making decisions on further investments.
The regulatory action and the related research and development efforts will build on existing initiatives involving a number of actors: the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the national Civil Aviation Authorities, the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment EUROCAE, Eurocontrol, the Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems JARUS, the SESAR Joint Undertaking (SJU), the European Defence Agency, the European Space Agency, the RPAS manufacturing industry and operators.
More information about civil and commercial use of drones (RPAS) you may read here: Drone Market Reports
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