Westminster Business Forum (WBF) is hosting a conference on 31 January 2023 to address Next steps for drone regulation and use in the UK. The conference is bringing together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the future of remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) regulation and commercial use in the UK, says WBF.
The conference coincides with the updates by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Airspace Modernisation Strategy, and Ofcom begins implementing its UAS Operator Radio licence – with further studies being conducted by UKRI and the Law Commission.
According to WBF, delegates will discuss the priorities for the safe and effective integration of unmanned and remotely piloted aircraft systems into UK airspace, and what is needed from regulators and users to enable routine operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). They will also examine emerging RPAS applications in key industries, the integration of drones into existing practices and business models, and the priorities for building business cases and attracting investment.
Keynote sessions feature Stuart Lindsay, Head, Airspace Modernisation, Civil Aviation Authority; andKevin Woolsey, Co-Head, General Aviation and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, Civil Aviation Authority. Further keynote contributions include Councillor Keith Artus, Chairman, Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group (SASIG); Helen Hearn, Director, Spectrum Policy, Ofcom;Dr Ruth Mallors-Ray, Director, RMR Consultants; John McKenna, CEO, sees.ai; Nicholas Paines KC, Commissioner for Public Law, Law Commission; Andrew Sage, Director, Safety Transformation, National Air Traffic Services; and Fiona Smith, Group Head of Aerodrome Strategy, AGS Airports.
Further sessions will explore:
- management of the safety and security risks of increased drone use, including emergency service response
- opportunity for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public services and projects through the inclusion of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology
- integrating RPAS into wider policy goals and realising their potential contribution to national efforts on sustainability and net-zero.
The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who are due to attend from the Cabinet Office; DCMS; DfT; the Home Office; MCA; the UKSA; and the Welsh Government.
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