New toolkit to help drone pilots stay within the law

The United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has launched a ‘toolkit’ aimed at ensuring that operators of unmanned aircraft systems (‘drones’) stay within the rules and avoid endangering other planes.
Council president Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said it would help drone operators of all ages “operate their aircraft safely and responsibly. The importance of recognizing that these devices are aircraft, and of integrating their use safely with existing manned operations, should not be underestimated.”
Drones can be mistakenly and often illegally operated by less-informed pilots around airports and other areas of controlled or sensitive airspace, and ICAO has been taking steps to help minimize the risks.
“Given the immense economic and social potential of UAS technology, and the variety of factors at play, regulations for these systems and their use must be carefully considered,” added ICAO secretary general Dr Fang Liu. “Our new toolkit offers not only helpful information and resources, but can also serve as a platform for the exchange of global best practices, lessons learned, and effective governance approaches.”
The toolkit can be accessed at icao.int/rpas