The final publication of these new international safety and quality standards for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is significant in the future growth of the drone industry globally, with the new framework of safety and quality compliance expected to trigger acceleration in the use of air drones by organisations. In particular, the new standardisation is expected to address the operational requirements of the more recognised and prevalent air drones, also known as UAS.
The new standards include protocols on quality, safety, security and overall etiquette for the operation of commercial air drones, which will help shape future regulation and legislation. It is the first in a series of emerging standards for air drones, with others due to address general specifications, product manufacture and maintenance, Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) and testing procedures. The product manufacture standards for UAS, which are due to be published next year, will combine with the operational standards already published to establish a full-airworthiness suite of standards for UAS.
Robert Garbett, Convenor of the ISO Working Group, Chairman of the BSI Committee for UK Drone Standards and Founder of Drone Major Group, commented on today’s announcement. “I am delighted that the operating standards for air drones have now been approved and published.This success follows four years of collaboration involving ISO, BSI and other national standards bodies from all over the world, reinforced through expert input from a wide range of industry and public sector stakeholders. The standards will deliver a new confidence among investors in the safety, security and compliance of commercial drone operations, which together with the product manufacture and maintenances, is expected in turn to facilitate a massive expansion in the availability and use of drone technology in the years to come.”
He continued: “Drones are a transformative global phenomenon, offering an unprecedented economic opportunity for those businesses and countries with the foresight to embrace this technology. My own conversations with Government, businesses and other stakeholders have shown that the new Standards will be enthusiastically welcomed and will empower organisations to discover how they can use drone technology to enhance their competitive position, adding value and creating growth and jobs.”