Lloyd’s market calls for drone law

The Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) has urged the government to introduce a legal framework for the regulation of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones.

 

The LMA’s aviation committee told the Department for Transport (DfT) that a primary legislation for drones would be needed in order to align the regulation of their use with those of manned aircraft.

 

The committee, which represents Lloyd’s managing agents writing aviation business, also called for the development of a tiered knowledge and testing-based system to ensure continued high safety standards.

 

“Both these suggestions would allow insurers to smoothly transition between manned and unmanned aircraft systems, and would also ensure a framework on which insurers could base their products,” the LMA said in a news release.

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According to its aviation committee, the LMA would also support the following moves:

· Provision of regional testing site for drones in response to the rapid increase in drone usage;

· Introduction of new competency standards and qualifications, similar to driving licence testing, to ensure common safety standards;

· Tailoring insurance requirements to reflect the risk profiles of different commercial uses.

 

The trade body made all the proposals as part of its response to the DfT’s consultation on the safe use of drones in the UK, which closed on Wednesday.

 

The consultation was aimed at getting industry opinion as to how government policy, regulation, safety and operations of drones should be managed in the future. The DfT wants the drone sector to grow by putting in place sustainable foundations for the developing market.