By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Minister of Transport and Aviation said yesterday that the Government is proposing legislation to govern the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Bahamas.
While the use of UAVs or drones has sparked serious debate in the US, local experts have called on the Government to ensure that the emerging industry is regulated in the Bahamas.
During her contribution to the mid-year Budget debate, Glenys Hanna Martin said: “The technology is fast becoming the subject of vigorous debate and is surrounded by controversy.
“There are a lot of stories of aviation safety issues. There are three categories of user, the commercial, the hobbits and the military, all of whom must be governed by regulations and we have none, with the issue of safety being paramount while not inhibiting legitimate use.”
Mrs Hanna Martin added: “My Ministry, in reviewing this new paradigm, will propose a framework of legislation that will govern usage, locale, height restrictions, operator certification, optimal use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking and operational limits in the appropriate circumstances.”
Mrs Hanna Martin said the Department of Civil Aviation will invite the public and stakeholders to comment on the proposed regulations. Those regulations will be posted for comment by March 30.
Comments
GrassRoot 9 years, 2 months ago
I am glad, that this topic is high up on the agenda of the Government and all resources are being deployed to make this new proposed law a success. it is important and of national importance, as it helps increasing the GDP and helps reducing the tax burden on the middle class Bahamian. And of course it will increase flight safety throughout the Bahamas, particularly since the planes with poorly serviced engines and fake spare parts have a hard time to maneuver around the drones.
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