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| UK drone users to sit safety tests under new law | UK drone users to sit safety tests under new law |
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| Drone users in the UK may have to take safety awareness tests under legislation planned by the government. | |
| Drones weighing more than 250g could also be banned from flying near airports, or above 400 ft, in a crackdown on unsafe flying. | Drones weighing more than 250g could also be banned from flying near airports, or above 400 ft, in a crackdown on unsafe flying. |
| Police will also be given new powers to seize and ground drones which may have been used in criminal activity. | Police will also be given new powers to seize and ground drones which may have been used in criminal activity. |
| The bill has been welcomed by the pilots' union, which has warned of near misses involving drones and aircraft. | The bill has been welcomed by the pilots' union, which has warned of near misses involving drones and aircraft. |
| Balpa said there had been 81 incidents so far this year - up from 71 in 2016 and 29 in 2015. | Balpa said there had been 81 incidents so far this year - up from 71 in 2016 and 29 in 2015. |
| The union's general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: "These proposals are a step towards the safe integration of drones, but until the new rules are in place the threat of a serious collision remains." | The union's general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: "These proposals are a step towards the safe integration of drones, but until the new rules are in place the threat of a serious collision remains." |
| In July a drone flew directly over the wing of a large passenger jet as it came into land at London's Gatwick Airport, which a report said had put 130 lives at risk. | In July a drone flew directly over the wing of a large passenger jet as it came into land at London's Gatwick Airport, which a report said had put 130 lives at risk. |
| The proposed bill - to be published in spring 2018 - would ensure that owners of drones weighing more than 250g would need to register and sit a test. | The proposed bill - to be published in spring 2018 - would ensure that owners of drones weighing more than 250g would need to register and sit a test. |
| Drone pilot and trainer Elliott Corke, director of HexCam, said most recreationally and commercially-used drones in use weighed more than 250g, apart from the cheap toy versions. | Drone pilot and trainer Elliott Corke, director of HexCam, said most recreationally and commercially-used drones in use weighed more than 250g, apart from the cheap toy versions. |
| He told BBC News that many new users were surprised by how many rules around drone usage already exist, under the Civil Aviation Authority's Drone Code. | He told BBC News that many new users were surprised by how many rules around drone usage already exist, under the Civil Aviation Authority's Drone Code. |
| He said there was a "degree of frustration" however that the rules were not being enforced effectively, allowing criminal activity to take place. | He said there was a "degree of frustration" however that the rules were not being enforced effectively, allowing criminal activity to take place. |
| Serena Kennedy, Assistant Chief Constable of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), told BBC Breakfast: "At the moment we're using other bits of legislation - the Civil Aviation Authority's - to enable us to take action. | Serena Kennedy, Assistant Chief Constable of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), told BBC Breakfast: "At the moment we're using other bits of legislation - the Civil Aviation Authority's - to enable us to take action. |
| "This draft legislation will give us the powers we need to tackle drones when they are being used for criminal purposes." | "This draft legislation will give us the powers we need to tackle drones when they are being used for criminal purposes." |
| She said it would help police tackle the "increasing problem" of drones delivering items, such as drugs and mobile phones, to prisons. | She said it would help police tackle the "increasing problem" of drones delivering items, such as drugs and mobile phones, to prisons. |
| She said the legislation could allow police to look at how they can protect prison establishments from criminal drone activity through geo-fencing, which programmes no-fly zones into drones using GPS co-ordinates. | She said the legislation could allow police to look at how they can protect prison establishments from criminal drone activity through geo-fencing, which programmes no-fly zones into drones using GPS co-ordinates. |
| Christian Struwe, head of European public policy at drone maker DJI, warned that some of the proposals may be "difficult to police" - for example the height restriction. | Christian Struwe, head of European public policy at drone maker DJI, warned that some of the proposals may be "difficult to police" - for example the height restriction. |
| But he told BBC Breakfast: "The good thing is that as an industry we are already working on it. We can limit how high they can fly." | But he told BBC Breakfast: "The good thing is that as an industry we are already working on it. We can limit how high they can fly." |
| Mr Struwe pointed out that there was no "hard limit" on how close drones could fly to airports. "The current wording is that you should stay well clear," he said. | Mr Struwe pointed out that there was no "hard limit" on how close drones could fly to airports. "The current wording is that you should stay well clear," he said. |
| He welcomed the proposals to limit the "bad use" of drones, adding that it was important people were aware there was regulation they needed to follow. | He welcomed the proposals to limit the "bad use" of drones, adding that it was important people were aware there was regulation they needed to follow. |
| Mr Corke agreed that there was a "lack of awareness" of the Drone Code, and said he was frustrated by the lack of focus on practical training. | Mr Corke agreed that there was a "lack of awareness" of the Drone Code, and said he was frustrated by the lack of focus on practical training. |
| "Most people don't read the manual or learn the safety features before they use their drones", he said, adding that many did not know what to do if something malfunctioned. | "Most people don't read the manual or learn the safety features before they use their drones", he said, adding that many did not know what to do if something malfunctioned. |
| Drone deliveries | Drone deliveries |
| Alongside the new laws, the government is also keen to develop technology allowing the greater use of drones for tasks including deliveries of everything from shopping to human organs. | Alongside the new laws, the government is also keen to develop technology allowing the greater use of drones for tasks including deliveries of everything from shopping to human organs. |
| The transport minster, Lady Sugg, said the government wanted to strike the right balance between harnessing drone potential and ensuring they are not misused. | The transport minster, Lady Sugg, said the government wanted to strike the right balance between harnessing drone potential and ensuring they are not misused. |
| "We're bringing forward this legislation in order to ensure that drones can be used safely, whilst also addressing some of the safety and privacy concerns that people have," she said. | "We're bringing forward this legislation in order to ensure that drones can be used safely, whilst also addressing some of the safety and privacy concerns that people have," she said. |
| The government is also working with drone manufacturers on technology which produces virtual barriers, to stop the machines operating in restricted areas. | The government is also working with drone manufacturers on technology which produces virtual barriers, to stop the machines operating in restricted areas. |