Gov’t to tighten management of unmanned, ultra-light aerial vehicles

Thanks to technological and scientific advances, drones and ultra-light aerial vehicles are developing in a fast and diverse manner and they have brought practical benefits to the society, reads the Directive.

However, the equipment may directly causes incidents that are harmful to national security and defense, social order and aviation safety. They may even be used to carry out sabotaging and terrorist activities by reactionary forces.

Some military units have detected drones and ultra-light aerial vehicles infringing military areas while the National Civil Aviation Security Committee reported some collisions between planes and flying objects happened in September and October last year.

In a bid to tighten management of drones and ultra-light aerial vehicles, the Government chief tasked the Ministry of National Defense to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to develop and submit to the Government a draft Decree replacing the Government Decree No. 36/2008/ND-CP dated March 28, 2008 on management of drones and ultra-light aerial vehicles.

The Ministry of National Defense is also responsible for drafting a Decision of the Prime Minister on establishment of no-fly zones and restricted airspaces and make public.

Pending the new Decree, the Government suspends granting licenses to organizations and individuals for operating drones and ultra-light aerial vehicles within 8km from the outer boundaries of civil airports.

The Ministry of Public Security shall coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of National Defense in reviewing and requesting organizations and individuals to declare their ownership of drones and ultra-light aerial vehicles./.

By Huong Giang