ICAO mulls global framework to manage drone traffic

Osinbajo cautions against over-regulation

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has disclosed plans to have a safe and efficient management of Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). The ICAO President, Dr. Bernard Aliyu made the disclosure at a symposium it organised on the RPAS, which is also called drone.

He said ICAO had not envisioned that the drone technology would grow at the spate at which it has developed.He said despite the growth opportunity in the industry, there was need to balance safety and security with efficiency and sustainability.

He urged the regulators to establish an appropriate regulatory framework.The president explained: “A key challenge that we are facing is that these unmanned aircraft are designed, developed and used for hundreds of diverse applications such as recreational videotaping, humanitarian support, wildlife monitoring and cargo delivery.”

But Osinbajo yesterday cautioned aviation authorities against the over-regulation of unmanned air vehicles in the country, saying it could discourage investors.The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this when the ICAO president led a stakeholders’ delegation to visit Osinbajo.

He added that the acting president, who also has a drone, was familiar with the operations of the facility and promised that the country would not over-regulate, but adjust for safety and efficiency.