European regulator proposes hack protection, geo-awareness for drones
22/02/2018 15:02
FRANKFURT, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Europe's aviation safety
authority has proposed anti-hacking measures and geo-awareness
technology for small drones to avoid collisions with aircraft or
people, taking an important step toward Europe-wide regulation.
The reworked proposal published by the European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) on Thursday, which will be the basis for
the European Commission to adopt concrete rules later in the
year, includes requirements for drones to be remotely
identifiable and to recognise when they stray into banned areas.
With demand booming, both for hobby and commercial use,
European regulators have been looking for ways to ensure drones
can be safely operated, while allowing the industry to grow.
Risks posed by the increasing use of drones were highlighted
in October when a drone hit an aircraft landing at a Canadian
airport, and there have been several near-misses between drones
and passenger planes in Europe. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N1MQ0FP
EASA confirmed proposals for product legislation using the
CE standard and for "dos and don'ts" notices to be in all
product boxes.
To take into account that the risks of flying drones over a
city centre are very different from flying over the open sea,
for instance, it said that only smaller drones weighing less
than 900 grams (2 lb) may be flown over people, while bigger
ones must either maintain a safe distance or stay far away.
It also now proposed that small drones, such as those used
for aerial photography, be equipped with geo-awareness, meaning
a function that warns the operator when the craft enters a
restricted air space, such as an airport.
That replaces a previous proposal for geo-fencing, which
would actively prevent drones from straying into banned areas.
Drones weighing more than 900 grammes should be equipped
with technology to prevent hackers from gaining control of the
crafts.
EASA also said that drones and their operators, as well as
where they took off, should be remotely identifiable, based on
unique serial numbers and registration data.
But it simplified its proposed rules on registration,
addressing the concerns of some EU member states. It said the
operators of drones - excluding very small ones weighing less
than 250 grammes - should register themselves rather than
filling out separate paperwork for each new craft.
Currently, the regulation of drones in Europe varies country
to country, but that can now change thanks to a reform of EASA
approved at the end of last year. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N1OM4AN
Drone makers and pilots have pressed for European rules to
be endorsed, saying it is essential a new regulatory framework
for drones be put in place as soon as possible.
Makers of commercial drones include China's DJI and France's
Parrot PARRO.PA .
(Reporting by Maria Sheahan; editing by Mark Heinrich)
((maria.sheahan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1286; Reuters
Messaging: maria.sheahan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: EUROPE DRONES/