Smart Regulations
Given the widespread challenge of low compliance, the importance of developing smart regulations that are tailored to each country’s unique needs and the reality on the ground is paramount. CAAs have the difficult responsibility of creating laws that ensure safety and security, while also enabling the use of drones for good and promoting economic growth. Understanding the perspective of the operators is fundamental to achieving this.
Tools & Resources
The following tools and resources are based on the experimentation, expert presentations, and discussions of the Wakanda Beyond process.
About
Drone regulations are pivotal in shaping the growth of the drone industry within a country. They dictate drone utilization, impacting businesses, import/export activities, and domestic production. Moreover, regulations consider privacy, safety, security, and potential disruptions to human populations and wildlife.
Why it is important
Finding the right balance in regulations is crucial. Overly stringent regulations can stifle industry growth, while more permissive ones, that don't compromise safety and security, can stimulate economic opportunities. Regulations must facilitate drone applications such as medical supply transport and agriculture while still addressing safety and security concerns. Despite their importance, regulations are still in their infancy in many countries, with limited empirical evidence regarding their impact on various sectors.
Things to consider
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User InterfaceIt's essential that the registration platform is intuitive and easy to use in order to increase compliance. Rigorous testing with diverse users can ensure the interface meets these standards, encouraging more drone owners to register.
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Developing in-house solutionsWhile some CAAs have taken significant strides towards developing their own in-house e-registration tool, this is not without its challenges. Many CAAs face limitations in programming capacity and resources. In addition, there are concerns about the future fitness of the solutions and the need to provide future updates and ongoing development. There is a need for cost-effective solutions, such as high quality open-source software, to develop and maintain the registration system efficiently.
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Data Privacy and Security:Registration systems must adhere to stringent data protection laws, safeguarding against unauthorized access, misuse, and potential hacking. Reliable backup and rollback capabilities are also vital. When unattended, these issues can become a showstopper. For example, one country had managed to build a good e-registration platform, but the rollout was stalled by not having the appropriate data protection features integrated into the solution.
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Registration FeesCountries explored strategies to deal with unregistered drones. For example, some found success by offering free registration if registration was completed by a specific time window, after which fees would be levied. Other countries said they would prefer to have late registration than unregistered drones and therefore offered no fees for registration at all times to maximize registrations. Other countries felt this approach might reduce the motivation to register.
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Inclusion of Foreign DronesThe approach to tourists or foreign professionals bringing drones into the country varies. Some nations offer expedited registration, while others impose restrictions. Ultimately, a quick, accessible, easy, and simple registration for all; local and foreign - would increase compliance across the board.
