Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Director at ARPAS-UK, has been invited to provide expert witness to the Science & Technology Committee Inquiry into the Commercial and Recreational Use of Drones in the UK.

You can watch on Parliament TV

Witnesses:

At 9.45 am

• Tim Johnson, Policy Director, Civil Aviation Authority
• Richard Parker, Chief Executive Officer, Altitude Angel
• Anne-Lise Scaillierez, Director, Association of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems UK

At 10.45 am

• Professor James P. Scanlan, University of Southampton
• Brendan Schulman, Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs, DJI
• Sir Brian Burridge, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Aeronautical Society

This is the first session of the Committee’s inquiry into commercial and recreational drone use in the UK, and will help the Committee to seek evidence on the risks and opportunities arising from the growing use of civilian drones. Themes for this session include:

• current and forthcoming regulation including registration plans;
• the effectiveness and prevalence of in-built safety features of drones.

Scope of the inquiry

This inquiry will look at the ethical and safety implications of the growing use of civilian drones, of all sizes, across the UK.

Drones have had a range of positive impacts across a variety of industries, from commercial photography and aerial surveying, through to crop spraying and parcel delivery. However, following increased recreational popularity, there have been several suspected drone incidents, including dozens of ‘near misses’ between drones and aircrafts.

Following two previous consultations on drone safety and security and incursions at Gatwick and Heathrow airports the Government is planning to bring forward a ‘Drones Bill’ in 2019.