Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/527016
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 JUNE 2015 12 News MATTHEW VELLA PLUMMETING drones falling in residential gardens, aircraft pi- lots facing RPAs at 3,000 feet in their flightpath, and even a drone crashing right in the middle of the Hibs-Birkirkara FA trophy final: the proliferation of lightweight remotely-piloted aircraft and their affordability have introduced a new actor in the skies, one that is worrying professional pilots and aviation authorities, but also con- cerned citizens. One Tarxien resident told Mal- taToday this week that one such drone fell into his back yard, when its operator knocked on his door asking for his machine. The person said that he was filming the Santa Lucija Hypogeum nearby. The incident was redolent of similar concerns by a public get- ting accustomed to the reality of drones. "Not only were we worried that someone can at will film private property without the owner's con- sent, but the fact that it inadvert- ently crashed highlights the risks of flying unlicensed equipment. The drone crashed onto our sun- shade: had anyone been out in the yard without that sunshade, we would have been seriously in- jured," the resident, who spoke under confidentiality, told Malta- Today. The matter was reported to the authorities. Amateur pilots can purchase drones as cheaply as €100 on some websites, such as the Blade Nano QX, or as much as €1,000 for cam- era drones like the DJI Phantom 2, which comes complete with a 14- megapixel camera and HD video capture. The drone even returns automatically to where it took off if you lose connection. But under a proposed legal notice, Transport Malta's civil aviation authority intends creating 'no-fly zones' for drones, which will only be able to be flown in designated areas unless there is written con- sent for specialised usage. The designated areas will be au- thorised only for sport and rec- reational activities, and drones will have to be flown within 400 feet above the surface. Operators who fail to observe the requirements risk a €1,000 fine. However, operators who use drones for communication, con- struction, photography, observa- tion or aerial advertisement will have to pay for these specialised operations. Such operators will need a per- mit to carry out these activities in designated areas, together with the registration of their drone, accreditation for the operators, a site and risk assessment for the in- tended operations, insurance, and a medical certification issued for the pilot. Any operator who fails to meet these requirements is liable to a €5,000 fine and the confiscation of his drone in the event of repeated breaches. In a public consultation meeting held in March, drone hobbyists voiced concerns that the "desig- nated areas" would pose additional bureaucracy, and that obtaining insurance would be next to impos- sible. But the director-general for civil aviation, George Borg Marks, said the number of incidents involv- ing RPAs highlighted the need for regulation: he cited one occasion where a drone had flown at 3,000 feet directly in the approach path of the airport runway. Transport Malta has told Malta- Today that the draft proposal will soon be submitted to Cabinet. "The Civil Aviation Directo- rate encourages all users of RPAs, whether amateur or professional, to join a local association or club, the reason being that such users can obtain advice, information and perhaps even instruction in flying from senior and more experienced RPA users. This is in the inter- est of safety to persons, property and other manned aircraft," a TM spokesperson said. The directorate will also encour- age drone users to get appropriate insurance. And while it will not en- visage any licensing, there will be some requirements for commer- cial-use RPAs. Privacy and safety concerns For newspapers, the new rules will surely impact the way drone- journalism can be carried out: MaltaToday is one such newspa- per which operates a drone for some of its news stories. But the rules are necessary in order to en- sure the safety of 'what' is being filmed using drones: for example, under the proposed legal notice filming a protest will only be possi- ble without flying over the people, and people flying the drone must be certified. In the UK, the House of Lords' Subcommittee on the EU Inter- nal Market, Infrastructure, and Employment, recommended in a report that UK media regulators should start a public consultation on the use of RPAs, citing privacy concerns. Drones normally carry video cameras, and that means that the privacy of private life and property can be interfered with and violated when drones capture images of people in their houses or gardens. The European Data Protection Supervisor has also highlighted gaps in data protection laws that do not address the possible intru- sions into privacy, or illegitimate use of drones that could be pro- hibited under criminal law, intel- lectual property, and other laws. The European Commission itself will be adopting standards and soft laws by 2016 designed at ensuring the regularisation of drone activity for industry, and the need for safe- ty, ethical and privacy standards. mvella@mediatoday.com.mt No-fly zones to address privacy, safety concerns on drones REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2017 REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2017 Catering and hospitality; Textile products; and Good quality gifts and mementos. The Parliamentary Secretariat for EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, within the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, invites proposals from commercial entities in respect of potential sponsorship opportunities in the context of Malta's forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union to be held in 2017. Areas in which the EU Presidency Unit welcomes contributions include: Transport services; IT goods and services; Telecommunications related services; Logistics services; Other areas may be identified in due course. The guidelines governing the sponsorship opportunities including the exposure given to the Presidency Corporate Sponsors are available online at www.eufunds.gov.mt. APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL THE 31 ST AUGUST 2015. Further queries can be addressed to Mr Charles Mizzi, Executive Director – Media & Marketing on charles.a.mizzi@gov.mt. REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2017 REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2017 THE EU 2017 THE EU 2017 THE EU 2017 The Parliamentary Secretariat for EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, within the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, invites proposals from commercial entities in respect of potential sponsorship opportunities in the context of Malta's forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union to be held in 2017. Areas in which the EU Presidency Unit welcomes contributions include: Transport services; IT goods and services; Telecommunications related services; Logistics services; Other areas may be identified in due course. The guidelines governing the sponsorship opportunities including the exposure given to the Presidency Corporate Sponsors are available online at APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL THE 31 Further queries can be addressed to Mr Charles Mizzi, Executive Director – Media & Marketing on charles.a.mizzi@gov.mt. REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2017 REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP REQUEST FOR COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIP 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 352326$/6,1&211(&7,21:,7+0$/7$·6 PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU 2017 THE EU 2017 THE EU 2017 THE EU 2017 The Parliamentary Secretariat for EU Presidency 2017 and EU Funds, within the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, invites proposals from commercial entities in respect of potential sponsorship opportunities in the context of Malta's forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union to be held in 2017. Areas in which the EU Presidency Unit welcomes contributions include: Transport services; IT goods and services; Telecommunications related services; Logistics services; Other areas may be identified in due course. The guidelines governing the sponsorship opportunities including the exposure given to the Presidency Corporate Sponsors are available online at APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL THE 31 PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR THE EU PRESIDENCY 2017 AND EU FUNDS of the Council of the 2017 Maltese Presidency European Union Operating drones: the rules RPAs (remotely piloted aircraft) in flight must give way to • manned aircraft RPAs cannot be operated outside designated areas • RPAs cannot be operated further than 150m from point of • operation Operators must have unaided visual contact with drone at • all times Cannot be flown higher than 400ft • Cannot be operated over, or within 150m of "confines of • congested town" Cannot be operated within 7.5km from aerodrome runway • or boundary Cannot be flown over open-air assembly of people • without written permission