Safer operation of unmanned aircraft. The government adopted amendment allowing to control drones25/1/2021|Press releasesThe government adopted an amendment to Civil Aviation Act, which is a part of a strategy on operation of unmanned aircraft in the Czech Republic, introducing recently implemented European rules for the use of drones. The act introduces additional control mechanisms or an option to apply for documents online and builds on previously launched registration of operators and training for remotely operating pilots according to the European rules. “We wish to use drones and modern technologies in transport in compliance with the European and world trends and at the same time ensure adequate safety and privacy for people. In pursuance of digitalisation of the public administration, we also allow registering drones, applying for documents or submitting applications online,” said minister of transport Karel Havlíček. In the view of the new European rules for operation effective from 2021, the adopted amendment specifies in further details the monitoring of compliance, defines sanctions and introduces option to submit some type of applications for operating licence online. It also implements procedures to create various types of zones with restrictions or special rules for drones. From 2022, all current zones will be displayed on a digital map under the state guarantee. The amendment also implements an option to establish U-Space airspace in the Czech Republic, which shall bring more advanced level of drones operation and their integration. This will make operation of multiple drones in one area safer, which is one of prerequisites to ensure that visions such as transport of goods or persons in the future are reached. The Parliament of the Czech Republic will now discuss the amendment. It should enter into force in mid-2021. From 31 December 2020, new rules for operation of drones apply in the Czech Republic and the EU. It applies to the newly sold as well as previously bought devices. It applies even to aircraft models, i.e. to all unmanned aircraft. There are now three categories of drones and operators must register themselves on the Civil Aviation Authority website. They will receive a registration number and use it to mark all of their drones. More information are available here.