UK Officials Highlighted Advanced Drone Regulations in West Coast Tour
For immediate release
November 23, 2016
UK Officials Embark on West Coast Tour to Highlight Advanced Drone Regulations
Last week a delegation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle experts from the United Kingdom met with industry leaders in California to highlight the United Kingdom’s regulatory leadership.
The United Kingdom has sophisticated regulations governing the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) for commercial use. Currently many leading companies use the UK for their drones testing, such as Amazon.
Mr. Tim Johnson (Policy Director, UK Civil Aviation Authority) and Dr. Michael Clark (Deputy Director, International Aviation, Safety and Environment, UK Department for Transport) spoke with companies, policy makers, and media to highlight the UK’s global leadership in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drones) testing and regulations.
Dr. Clark remarked: “This was a fantastic visit to see where the US and UK can further collaborate and learn from one another about UAV testing and delivery. I’m returning to London and already have ideas for a few policy changes to ensure we get the most of the drone economy.”
Mr. Johnson agreed. “It was also good to discuss with our American counterparts how we can jointly tackle issues such as safety, security and privacy, or using drones for public projects like inspecting power lines or helping with search-and-rescue missions.”
The UK partnered with Ms. Monica England, Marketing Director, 5D Robotics, Inc. to host a private reception in San Jose the first night of Drone World Expo. Other events that took place included a panel discussion at the Drone World Expo in San Jose, speaking at Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation’s SoCal Aerospace Council, and meetings with industry leaders such as Tesla Foundation and Qualcomm to discuss the future of the drone industry.
“It’s a good feeling to know that the UK is proactively looking to collaborate with San Diego companies in different areas of unmanned technology and autonomous innovation,” said Monica England.
The San Diego Lindbergh Chapter of AUVSI hosted the group of experts later in the week at their bi-monthly networking reception to discuss their perspective on the growing unmanned systems market in the United Kingdom.
There is still work to do regarding drones and their usage, but for now it seems the UK is remaining ahead of the curve and endeavouring to remain a leader in this new technology.
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For more info, contact:
Mr. Matt Reents
Head of Politics, Press, & Public Affairs
British Consulate-General, Los Angeles
310-201-3026
Background:
AUVSI San Diego
The San Diego Lindbergh Chapter is dedicated to the advancement of Unmanned Systems and Technology in the greater Southwest region. The Chapter enthusiastically engages in initiatives with the public and private sectors for the advancement and advocacy of Unmanned Systems, and is a value-added resource for the integration and interoperability of space, air, ground, sea and undersea systems. For more information, please visit www.auvsisandiego.com
Science & Innovation Network:
The Science & Innovation Network, a UK Government initiative, works internationally to influence and leverage opportunities in the science and innovation policies of governments, businesses and academia, informing UK policy, and promoting ‘best with best’ collaboration between the UK and other nations. For more information on our work, please see our blog at http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/global-science-and-innovation-network/
UK Department for International Trade:
The Department for International Trade (DIT) helps businesses export and grow into global markets. We also help overseas companies locate and grow in the UK.
www.GREAT.gov.uk brings together information about investing in the UK. It promotes our country as the natural choice for overseas investment. It includes:
• reasons why an overseas business should invest in the UK
• sector-specific information about the UK economy, starting with automotive, creative
industries, energy, financial and professional services, life sciences and technology
• a way for overseas businesses to contact DIT staff in their country
Contact your local DIT office on 1-310-843-2965.
UK Civil Aviation Authority:
The CAA’s primary aim is to enable the full and safe integration of all UAS operations into the UK’s total aviation system. As the UK's specialist aviation regulator CAA ensures that:
• the aviation industry meets the highest safety standards
• consumers have choice, value for money, are protected and treated fairly when they fly
• CAA drives improvements in airlines and airports’ environmental performance
• the aviation industry manages security risks effectively.
CAA are a public corporation, established by Parliament in 1972 as an independent specialist aviation regulator.
UK Department for Transport:
DFT works with agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. They plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move. DFT is supported by 19 agencies and public bodies.