BRUSSELS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th May, 2019) The European Commission on Friday endorsed rules on operating drones, which will apply to both professional unmanned aerial vehicles and those used for leisure, according to the EU executive body's statement.
"Today the European Commission adopted EU rules to ensure increasing drone traffic across Europe is safe and secure for people on the ground and in the air. The rules will apply to all operators of drones - both professionals and those flying drones for leisure," the statement said.
The initiatives will replace relevant regulations in EU member states and provide the bloc with "the most advanced rules worldwide," according to Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc.
The commission specified that, starting from 2020, drone operators would be obliged to register with national authorities.
The new rules would concern all drones regardless of weight, however operators of aerial vehicles weighing less than 25 kilograms (55 Pounds) "will be able to fly those without prior permission under a certain number of conditions."
"Among others such conditions are that the drone must not fly higher than 120 meter [394 feet] and that the operator always keeps the drone in his/her visual line of sight and flies it far away from people," the commission added.
Under the rules, EU nations will have the right to designate certain areas as no-fly zones.
