Event: The drone ages: issues, actors and perspectives (Brussels, 22 February 2019)

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UPDATED – Comitology Meeting: Committee on Standards (15 October 2018)

Press Release: RPAS drone flights get underway in Spain to assist SASEMAR in its search and rescue and pollution monitoring operations

EMSA’s service of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems is being used by the Spanish maritime safety agency SASEMAR in the southern province of Huelva for the purpose of identifying and monitoring oil spills as well as for additional assistance during search and rescue missions. SASEMAR is using this opportunity to see first-hand how RPAS can be of value to multipurpose maritime surveillance operations.

OPP Meeting Summary: EP TRAN Committee – Scrutiny: Presentation by the Commission of Delegated act on drones for use in the open category (29 January 2019)

Agenda: EP TRAN Committee Meeting (21 – 22 January 2019)

Agenda items on the 21 January include discontinuing seasonal changes of time, a presentation by the Commission on the draft Delegated Act on specifications for Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems, a presentation by the Commission on the Delegated act on drones for use in the open category. On the 22 January, there will be votes on time limit for the implementation of the special rules regarding maximum length in case of cabs delivering improved aerodynamic performance, Common rules for access to the international market for coach and bus services and the Treaty establishing the Transport Community. An exchange of views with Romanian Interim-Minister of Transport, Mrs. Rovana Plumb, on Romanian Presidency priorities will also take place.

UPDATED – Comitology Meeting: RSC Radio Spectrum Committee (5 – 6 December 2018)

Study: Artificial Intelligence and civil law; liability rules for drones

Press Release: Drones: European Commission prepares smart mobility solutions for tomorrow

Today the European Commission, European and national authorities together with the industry adopted the Amsterdam declaration to advance safe, secure and green drone operations in Europe. The declaration stresses that Europe should come up with concrete smart mobility solutions that integrate aviation in wider transport policy. These solutions should also support automated drone operations over longer distances. The Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency reiterated their readiness to help Member States to implement the drone regulation.

OPP Meeting Summary: EP TRAN Committee – Autonomous driving in European transport (21 November 2018)

Event: Amsterdam Drone Week (Amsterdam, 26-30 November 2018)

Event: High Level Conference on Drones 2018 (Amsterdam, 27-28 November 2018)

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on Common Rules in the Field of Civil Aviation

Press Release: Keeping drones safe, secure and green: Commission launches the European Network of U-space Demonstrators

Event: Blockchain Technologies and Regional Drone Experiments for Industry 4.0 (Brussels, 10 October 2018)

UPDATED – Press Release: Commission welcomes European cities joining the Urban Air Mobility initiative

Update: La Nouvelle-Aquitaine and the MAHHL-cities have joined the Urban Air Mobility Initiative.

Statement: Commissioner Bulc meets with President of Boeing International, Marc Allen, and senior Boeing executives in Seattle, Washington

Updated – ‘I/A’ Item Note: ICAO – Coordination for the 13th Air Navigation Conference (9 – 19 October, Montréal)

UPDATED – Report: EP AFET Committee on the state of EU-US relations

Press Release: Getting REAL with drones

Today, RPAS operations are usually limited to segregated airspace or visual line of sight conditions, and operators and manufacturers rarely integrate certified avionics on-board. However, for RPAS to operate autonomously with other airspace users in a shared airspace volume, certified avionic equipment will probably be needed. This represents a great opportunity for GNSS augmented services, like EGNOS.

OPP Meeting Summary: EP AGRI Committee – Implementation of Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides (29 August 2018)

OPP Meeting Summary: EP TRAN Committee – Autonomous Driving in European Transport (29 August 2018)

A summary of the Committee’s consideration of the draft report is now available.

Event: Copernicus and aerial platforms (Brussels, 13 September 2018)

UPDATED – Expert Group on Drones (main group) (4 June 2018)

Official Journal (L Series): Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and amending Regulations (EC) No 2111/2005, (EC) No 1008/2008, (EU) No 996/2010, (EU) No 376/2014 and Directives 2014/30/EU and 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 552/2004 and (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 (Text with EEA relevance.)

Interview with air traffic expert Robin Garrity: We need a drone register to ensure privacy and safety

Requiring drones to identify and authorise themselves before they can fly, which could be achieved by fitting them with SIM cards, could help to protect people’s privacy by providing an effective way to register both users and machines, according to air traffic management expert Robin Garrity.