Hong Kong drone owners may have to pass tests and register with authorities
Civil Aviation Department launches consultation on proposed regulations, including proper training and insurance requirements for the popular gadgets
Owners of drones may have to register with the authorities, take training and pass tests, and meet insurance requirements under proposals Hong Kong officials are mulling as they seek to regulate the remote-controlled flying devices.
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) on Tuesday launched a three-month public consultation exercise to get feedback on recommendations in a consultancy study conducted last year.
The department cited calls for a fundamental review of existing laws, “which are considered rudimentary and unable to cope with technological advancements of drones”.
The consultants also recommended drawing an official map to specify no-fly zones for drones.
Under the proposals for consideration, owners would have to register drones weighing more than 250 grams, and take “short web-based training” to fly drones weighing between 250g and 7kg. Those operating drones weighing more than 7kg would have to undergo more in-depth training and get certification from the CAD. Third-party insurance would also be mandatory for the operation of drones weighing more than 250 grams.
At present, drones in Hong Kong are classed as aircraft and governed by civil aviation legislation. Operators are required to observe telecoms laws, but there is no specific regulation on the use of drones, known formally as “unmanned aerial vehicles”.
