Civil Aviation Pushes Forward on Drone Regulations

And now, an important update for Belize’s growing drone community. The Belize Department of Civil Aviation says it’s heard the concerns, loud and clear. The agency has acknowledged feedback from drone operators and other stakeholders and confirms that it’s reviewing those concerns as part of an ongoing consultation process. What’s more, regulators say an open meeting is in the works, giving drone operators the chance to hear directly from the BDCA, and to raise their questions and concerns face‑to‑face. While many in the industry are welcoming that step as a sign of progress, the department is also emphasizing urgency, noting that it has a responsibility to move quickly when it comes to safeguarding Belize’s national airspace.

 

Nigel Carter, Director of Civil Aviation

“The complete document is up for revision. Normally, the process that we undertake is, we put the document out for consultation, we ask that you provide a legitimate concern. It can’t be that “it doesn’t make any sense to us, so change it.” Or “I’m gonna lose money, so change it.” Yes, we have to be cognizant that people use drones to make a living, but we want them to do that in an organized and safe way, and in a way that they can integrate properly with manned aviation. We must look at each valid concern and we ask that you provide alternative proposals when you disagree with a specific article of the directive that is put out there and then we review it. If it makes sense, if it is practical, we undertake to do a risk analysis exercise with each one of those concerns that are raised, and if it doesn’t reduce the level of safety then we feel that we can go ahead and make the necessary changes.”

 

As the consultation process moves forward, stakeholders say preparation will be key, as new drone regulations inch closer to rollout.