Belize’s Drone Boom Collides with Regulatory Uncertainty

Belize’s skies are getting busier but the rules governing drones are still being worked out. Today, the Department of Civil Aviation hosted a consultation session with drone operators, businesses and other stakeholders as it continues drafting new regulations for unmanned aerial systems. The process has been under scrutiny since industry representatives accused the department last month of moving too quickly without adequate consultation. Civil Aviation has since extended its review period, saying the volume of feedback received requires more time to analyze before a revised draft is finalized at the end of July. Director Nigel Carter says the goal is to strike a balance between embracing drone technology and protecting the safety of Belize’s national airspace.

 

Nigel Carter, Director, Department of Civil Aviation

“We have put out a press release indicating that we’re actually extending the time for us to give a response. We have to analyze the comments properly and then come out with something that will, as best as practical, work for all parties. So, we again, matters such as the accident come – they all come up and so from time to time we have to share our attention with other matters. And so we’re proposing that it be presented by the 30^th of July. It’s always better to underpromise and overdeliver as opposed to the other way around whereby you’ll keep asking me, you know, “Why it not ready yet?” So, you know, we expect to have it completed before the end of July. We put the end of July as a deadline for it. The amount and level of training that is given to persons operating manned aircraft is quite significant. And so we have to be able to, for all intents and purposes, regulate and ensure that those that are operating drones understand the usage of the airspace, otherwise there could be havoc.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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