It looks like drones will be getting the royal treatment, with the Queen expected to mention them specifically in the annual State Opening of Parliament later on today. She will be reading a statement prepared by the government, which will provide some insights into how those in power view the rise of consumer drone usage.
New Regulations Likely
There is likely going to be a discussion regarding current drone regulations after numerous high profile
near-misses with commercial airliners.
UK regulation is, as of the moment, less strict than that imposed by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in the US. This represents commercial opportunity for those looking to
implement drones into their business strategy.
However, there has been increased pressure on the government to implement a stricter set of rules due to concerns about everything from mid-air collisions to potential invasions of privacy.
Growth in the Drone Industry
Aside from Heliguy’s favourite topic, driverless cars and a proposed first commercial spaceport for the UK will all be featured in the speech, with the Department for Transport stating that such cutting-edge technologies are crucial to the country’s economy. The DfT also stated it will reveal proposals to increase the number of jobs in these sectors later on today.
Speaking on the subject of drones specifically, the DfT said it is in the process of researching methods to escalate ‘innovation and growth’ in the drone industry, for both private and commercial use.
It’s reassuring news to hear that governmental agencies are seeing the potential of drones as a commercial asset, hopefully they will communicate effectively with the existing community to ensure an outcome which is in the best interests of everyone involved.
It will be interesting to see what comes out of the Queen’s speech, as new laws could dramatically change the landscape of drone legislation, whether for better or worse is yet to be seen.
Keep checking back to Heliguy Insider for the latest news from the drone industry.
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