As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the European Commission has decided to postpone Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 on the rules and procedures of the operating UAS, allowing the current national drone operating rules to apply for a further six months.
According to “Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/746 of 4 June 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 as regards postponing dates of application of certain measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:” “A delay in executing the different tasks required for the proper and timely implementation of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, notably the establishment of registration systems that are digital and interoperable, as well as the adaptation of authorisations, declarations and certifications issued on the basis of national law, is inevitable as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The standardisation process and other related activities led by the industry and standardisation bodies, such as preparation of testing methodologies, or the testing of technical features, such as the remote identification, has been delayed. This in turn will have a negative impact on the capacity of manufacturers to put on the market unmanned aircraft systems (‘UAS’) meeting the new standardised requirements in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945. All UAS types should thus be allowed to continue to operate under the existing conditions for an additional six months. Therefore, the dates of application of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 should be postponed accordingly in order to allow UAS operators to be able to use UAS not complying with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 for additional six months.”
Further comment and analysis will be provided by Unmanned Airspace in due course.
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