IAA launches consultation on rules for drones / UAS in the Dublin area

Aviation Regulator invites comments from drone users, public and business

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) today launched a public consultation on proposed changes to the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) geographical zone for the Dublin area, which is the busiest air traffic space in the country. 

Diarmuid Ó Conghaile, recently appointed Aviation Regulator / CEO Designate of the Irish Aviation Authority, commented that stakeholder engagement is vital in ensuring that the approach to drone / UAS  regulation is transparent and fully informed, underpinning an approach which facilitates personal and business use while observing the highest safety standards. 

“It is safety critical to ensure that UAS operated in, or near significant air space corridors poses no threat to commercial or general aviation. At the same time, the regulation of UAS should adhere to the principles of necessity and proportionality. Our job is also to facilitate the use of drones, which are quickly emerging as a transformative technology.”

“The regulation of UAS is a rapidly evolving framework, with newly issued regulations from the EU now in force, and further regulation and implementing rules in development. The IAA will be giving more focus to drones in the coming months and years. We have significant expertise in-house in the areas of drone operation, engineering and airspace management, and will be building on this base to meet the new demands. We have already established an automated online service for drone registration and basic training, which is available to users 24/7.”

“The consultation process opened today is an important element of our engagement with stakeholders and we encourage those with an active interest to participate."

Proposed changes:

1. The proposed changes will ease UAS restrictions in the Dublin area while maintaining protection for airports, air corridors and sensitive state infrastructure, e.g. hospitals and prisons.
2. Drones in the Dublin UAS geographical zone are currently restricted to a height of 15m (50 ft). The proposed changes will introduce graduated limits (depending on location) up to a maximum of 100 metres without special permission from the IAA.
3. Different options are put forward for consideration in the consultation document

The consultation document for these options can be accessed here and we are inviting comments on the proposed airspace changes by the 7th May 2021. This can be done one of two ways:

1. Online form at https://www.iaa.ie/uas  
2. Alternatively, please write to us directly at: IAA-SRD, Air Navigation Services Division, The Times Building, Dublin 2, D02 T449