Further evidence of the EU’s unswerving commitment to the
introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or pilotless ‘drone’
planes) into European airspace has emerged in recent weeks. The
European Commission, however, is yet to issue as much as a single
communication explaining the EU’s UAV programme or setting out policy
options for the member states. So much for openness and transparency.
[neoconopticon.wordpress.com] At present drones/UAVs are only permitted to operate in ’segregated
airspace’ for military operations because of fears about public safety.
Manned aircraft operating in commercial airspace are subject to
stringent air traffic control safety regulations; those promoting UAV’s
have yet to convince regulators of their safety (see the second comment in this post for a list of notable accidents). Last week the UK Civil Aviation Authority grounded an unlicensed Merseyside Police drone following the Force’s boast that it had been used to track down a car thief.
The European Defence Agency (EDA) has just awarded a contract to the European defence giant EADS and its subsidiary Astrium,
Europe’s largest space company, to lead a six-month feasibility study
demonstrating the safety of UAVs in civil airspace. EADS, the
self-proclaimed “leading manufacturer of UAVs in Europe”, will use a
Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV in the attempt to convince
regulators, while Astrium will provide the satellite-based services
“needed to operate the UAVs safely in civil airspace”. EADS and Astrium
already use this technology in Afghanistan, where the French air force
have deployed one of their Harfang UAVs.
According to ASDNews,
the consortium will meet key European civil and military stakeholders
during the study in order to “receive their endorsements on safety and
regulatory policy, and on future applications”. ASDNews also predicts
that upon completion of the study, the EDA and the European Space
Agency (ESA) will jointly fund a full demonstration programme. One
wonders when, if ever, the European Parliament or the member states
will be formally consulted?
“The outcome of this study will further reinforce our capability to
propose leading-edge and secured solutions to our customers” said
Bernhard Gerwert, CEO Military Air Systems, an integrated Business Unit
of EADS Defence & Security. Like the European Defence Agency, FRONTEX is also doing its bit for UAVs and will host an event in Spain for manufacturers this coming June.
