Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Emerging Policy and Regulatory Issues

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide a new and exciting platform for remote sensing and other applications. However, the added technological capabilities have produced policy and regulatory challenges. There is a need to understand the technology and infrastructure in the context of national and international laws. This contribution is an attempt to develop an understanding of the use of UAVs and their policy and regulatory implications. The deployment of UAVs might be more restricted and restrictive than at first envisaged. Such considerations as the sharing of domestic airspace, air navigation rules, public safety and national security are pertinent. There is a pressing need to address legal obligations and responsibilities and related issues such as privacy rather than just be concerned with the technology. Particular restrictions such as the export of the technology, the transmission of geospatial data across borders and international agreements are as important.