Tougher drone rules on the cards in Hong Kong as industry body warns of ‘reckless’ flying and threat to passenger aircraft
Local lawmakers slated to hear proposals requiring devices be registered and users trained and insured
Hong Kong is gearing up to take a tougher approach to drones being flown for recreation as the global aviation industry body warns of how “reckless” deploying of the devices is posing a grave threat to passenger aircraft.
Lawmakers in the city will hear proposals on Tuesday from the local aviation regulator seeking to introduce revised rules that would require unmanned aircraft to be registered and users trained and insured to operate them safely. The push follows recommendations from industry experts.
Last week, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the airline global trade body, called for governments to ensure law enforcement played a key role in deterring dangerous flying of recreational drones.
While drones have become more affordable, accessible, popular and technologically advanced, global regulations have not kept pace with consumer trends and habits.
The sharp rise of recreational drone flying has coincided with a number of collisions and near-misses between the devices and passenger aircraft around the world.