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The Latest News From the IAA

Minister Donohoe Launches National Drone Registration

18 Jan 2016

Minster for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe has today officially launched National Drone Registration Day at an event in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. National Drone Registration Day is intended to raise awareness that all drones over 1kg must be registered with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and to encourage the safe use of drones.

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(L-R: Damien Doyle, Copter Shop Ireland, Minster for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe and Irish Aviation Authority Director of Safety Regulation, Ralph James).

Registration can be completed online via the IAA’s website: www.iaa.ie/drones. To encourage early registration, drone registration is free until the end of January. After this a nominal fee of €5 will apply.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr. Paschal Donohoe said: “Drone use is increasing exponentially in Ireland and nearly 1,200 have already been successfully registered with the IAA. The new register will help to safely integrate these small aircraft into the broader aviation system. The potential application for drones is truly incredible and the development of the drone industry in Ireland will have a very positive effect on the wider economy”.

Mr Ralph James, IAA Director of Safety Regulation, said “We are tremendously happy with the response to drone registration so far and would encourage those who have yet to register their drones to do so as soon as possible. Drones are an exciting new area of aviation and we are working with industry to ensure that they are used safely and do not interfere with other forms of aviation. It is the responsibility of all drone users to operate them in a safe manner and we would ask that they familiarise themselves with the rules, which are available on the IAA website”.

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In December 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to successfully roll out drone registration, which can be done via the IAA’s online ASSET portal. Since the first full day of the site being operational, the IAA has had an overwhelmingly positive response with nearly 1,200 drones already registered.

To register a drone, the registrant must be 16 years of age or older (Drones operated by those under 16 years of age must be registered by a parent or legal guardian).

For further information on the safe use of drones and drone registration, please visit www.iaa.ie/drones.


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