Drone standards aim to regulate the ‘wild west’ of airspace

Drone makers and operators will be forced to step up their standards to meet new regulations aimed at taming the “wild west” of airspace.

The International Standards Organisation (ISO) unveiled the rules today ahead of the introduction of a new bill to govern drone flights in the UK. They are expected to be finalised in 2019. 

ISO drone expert Robert Garbett said: “Most drone makers are doing everything they can, but some don’t use existing materials. They may not come from an aviation background, for example.

“Everybody across the industry believes drones can be safe and of great benefit to mankind. Operators and service providers alike are keen to establish a baseline.”

The standards include a flying “etiquette” around no-fly zones, geo-fencing technology that can stop flights in restricted areas, flight logging requirements as well as training and maintenance standards.

They also call on flyers to keep drone hardware and software up to date and have a human monitor for all flights.

The move comes a week after drone pilot Sergej Miaun became the first to be prosecuted for endangering a police helicopter.