INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
regulator.The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is consulting on introducing a licence fee to cover the costs of operating the new drone
registration scheme.From November, drone owners would have to register their details on a database and drone flyers would complete a free
online safety test.But a drone membership organisation claimed the charge was "far too high".The plans would affect anyone who owns a drone
that weighs more than 250 grams (8oz)
Only those aged 18 would be able to register as the official drone owner
There would be no fee for "remote pilots" - those who fly the drones but are not registered owners
The CAA has launched a consultation on the proposals, with a final decision expected by the regulator in July.The number of drone users in
the UK is unknown, but the CAA estimates 170,000 people will register.Image copyrightGetty ImagesNew EU rules will mean each member state
will have to hold a national register of drone users from next year.A similar registration scheme in France is free, in the US costs $5
But the CAA says these schemes are part, or wholly, subsidised by the taxpayer.The government has provided funding for the development costs
of the new drone registration scheme, but the CAA said it would have to recover the expense of running, maintaining and updating it
The regulator said it was keeping the charge "as low as possible" and that it may increase or decrease in future years, depending on the
number who register.But the FVP UK Association, which represents 4,000 flyers, said it "strongly opposes" the charge, which it said was "far
too high"."Criminals aren't going to register, so the safe and compliant people are the ones listed on the database," the group's chief
executive, Simon Dale, said.He added that the group would be calling on members to write to their MPs, the aviation minister and the CAA to
oppose the plans.'Fee will deter people'Carys Kaiser, a photographer from the Peak District who runs the Drone Lass blog, said the fee
risked discouraging people from taking up the hobby."From a female perspective and an education point of view, drones are a brilliant tool
for getting young women, girls and boys into STEM subjects," she said.She welcomed the idea of a registration scheme, but said the CAA
should focus on providing better guidance for drone operators.She said: "The drone industry as a whole has always said that we need a
registration process and an education programme that says 'this is where you can fly'
"{But} when you read the rules online it's difficult to interpret."Image copyrightCarys KaiserImage caption
Carys Kaiser
said the fee risked discouraging people from taking up the hobby
Drone enthusiast Paul Jaggers, from Twickenham in west
London, believes the cost of the licence is "extremely overpriced".The 33-year-old, who runs a club in which members race around an indoor
course, said the cost could put people off flying drones."If anything this fee will deter people
I think they are trying to make it not so popular because of the commercial opportunities."That air space is so valuable for the commercial
drones, whether that's delivery, agriculture, or security, and it will be important for policing and any of the emergency services."By
charging unjustifiable pricing they're trying to suppress it because otherwise it'll be chaos."But Gemma Alcock, whose company SkyBound
Rescuer advises emergency services on how they can best use drones for search and rescue operations and other forms of emergency response,
welcomed the CAA's proposals
"I think operator registration is vital for accountability, to hopefully deter drone operators from misuse
"I understand and appreciate that in order for the CAA to develop and maintain this registration service, a fee from operators is needed and
I think it's a positive step forward."Under the CAA's plans, a single owner would be able to register multiple drones.Four of the largest
drone associations, which represent 40,000 users between them, are understood to be exploring whether they are able to act as the registered
operator for all of their members' drones and model aircraft.The FVP UK Association says the move could help prevent people from the
quitting the hobby."This would seem to meet the government's requirements and it would give the advantage of increasing the number of
insured flyers, too, as all of our members are covered under our public liability insurance," the group said.How other licence fees
Piloted Aircraft Systems (Arpas UK), which represents the drone industry, welcomed the online safety tests for flyers and said it would
consult members before responding to the proposals.The proposals do not affect the CAA's existing charges for commercial operation permits.A
public consultation on the proposals closes on 7 June.
