This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline, thanks to generous funding support from the European UnionÕs Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. This comprehensive book presents a unique and in depth overview of the regulatory frameworks governing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) across 11 European jurisdictions. It emphasises the complex and evolving nature of aviation law as it is applied to UAS technology and demonstrates the need for a more cohesive legal framework in this sector.

This book examines rights issues in relation to visual privacy in the use of civilian drones. Here, visual privacy is described as the freedom from a combination of unwanted activities directed towards an individual, such as observing, recording, and publishing of personal visual information without an individual’s consent. The book answers the question of whether visual observation of an individual with the help of the camera systems onboard a civilian drone is lawful in light of EU law. It also discusses the legality of the subsequent recordings and publications. The issues are considered in terms of the European Convention of Human Rights, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union and EU General Data Protection Regulation. The book will be a valuable resource for researchers, academics and policy-makers working in the areas of technology, privacy and human rights law.

UAS Integration into Civil Airspace Explores current Unmanned Air Systems policies with a view to developing a common airspace access and integration strategy UAS Integration into Civil Airspace: Policy, Regulations and Strategy examines the current state of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) airspace access and integration around the world, focusing on the efforts that have produced a regulatory response to the demand for access. This analysis discusses the proposed architectures for a common strategic and analytical thread that may serve as templates for the entire community, as well as for regulators and policymakers who must balance the needs and demands of UAS users with the general public’s right to safe skies and privacy. An understanding of the market forces and business cases that are fuelling the development of the technology is also covered with a focus on the economics of the industry. The book presents a strategy for airspace access and integration that will facilitate humanitarian, environmental, social and security uses of unmanned aircraft systems on a global scale. Key features: Discusses existing and evolving policies and regulations from nations around the world for operating Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in civil airspace Examines the current status of technological developments such as UTM and U-space and explores the technological potential in the years to come Presents a comprehensive airspace integration strategy that balances the many conflicting interests in the UAS world, with due regard for safety, utility and affordability UAS Integration into Civil Airspace: Policy, Regulations and Strategy is essential reading for all professionals involved in UAS industry, as well as students in mechanical engineering and law.

Aviation Law and Policy Series # 19 The incursion of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is radically reshaping the future of international civil aviation. As the civil uses of UAS increase and the technology matures in parallel, questions around the associated legal implications remain unanswered, even in such fundamental legal regimes of international civil aviation as airspace, aircraft, international air navigation, international air transport, and safety. This book – the first to consider international law and regulations to cross-border civil flights of UAS – explores current legal and regulatory frameworks from the perspective of how they may facilitate the operations of UAS. The author, a well-known air law practitioner and diplomat, identifies the legal challenges and proposes sound, well-informed measures to tackle those challenges. The book explores comprehensively the means of incorporating UAS within the arena of air law while stimulating further research and debate on the topic. Analysis of the cross-border operations of UAS focuses on aspects relevant to their immediate future, and address such questions as the following: What processes are currently in place? What factors require attention? What aspects particularly influence the future of UAS? Is the current international legal framework adequate to ensure the operation and development of UAS while preserving high levels of safety? How will artificial intelligence impact the civil operations of UAS? The author’s analyses draw on relevant initiatives in existing and proposed Standards and Recommended Practices for the operation of UAS on cross-border flights, as well as States’ regulation of UAS within their national airspace. Also described are the main bilateral and multilateral air services and transport agreements with respect to their application to the operation of UAS. Given the escalating need to adopt a comprehensive international regulatory framework for the operation of UAS aimed at facilitating its safe and efficient integration – even as the technology advances and continues to outpace law while the potential for incidents involving UAS grows – this book is well timed to meet the challenge for States and International Civil Aviation Organization and airspace planners. Its innovative approaches to the management of the air traffic safety and security of UAS are sure to influence the development of regulations for civil UAS. The book will be welcomed by aviation regulators, interested international and regional organisations, research organisations, aviation lawyers, and academics in international law and air law.

The increasing civilian use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) is not yet associated with a comprehensive regulatory framework, however new rules are rapidly emerging which aim to address this shortfall. This insightful book offers a thorough examination of the most up-to-date developments, and considers potential ways to address the various concerns surrounding the use of UASs in relation to safety, security, privacy and liability.

Aerospace Law and Policy Series, Volume 11 In recent years, few industries have grown so prodigiously as that of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and, as a result, developments in national, regional, and international law and policy are being initiated and implemented. This new edition of the definitive survey and guide, first published in 2016, reflects the expansion of this sector and the importance placed on it by a diverse range of stakeholders, as well as the enlarged regulatory and policy landscape. In addition to updating many of the original chapters, the second edition covers new topics and moves away from a purely introductory book to a more detailed and critical compendium. Authorship has also been extended beyond the original scope of contributors, which originally centred around those affiliated with Leiden University’s Institute of Air and Space Law, and now includes additional experts from all around the world, each of whom explores both already existing rules and proposals coming from national, regional and international levels. As well as broadened discussions on such fundamental legal issues as insurance, financing, liability, accidents investigation, privacy, cyber security, stakeholder organisations and industry standards, the second edition takes into account major recent developments in such areas as the following: applicability and relevance of international regulatory instruments; coming into force of the European Union UAS-related laws; evolution of different States’ national law; public safety (e.g., design, production, operation and maintenance); development of unmanned traffic management systems; commercial operations, including urban air mobility (e.g., flying taxis, cargo delivery, high-altitude activities); and developments in defence and security (e.g., dual-use, counter-UAS industry to combat illegal use). As in the first edition, a representative cross section of national laws is included, covering twenty-one different jurisdictions. This fully updated edition not only synthesises and clarifies the complex body of international, regional and national UAS-related law, but also provides expert insight into trends and areas of concern for numerous stakeholders. Without a doubt, it will be of immeasurable value to lawyers, relevant governmental and non-governmental agencies, aviation law scholars, and strategic planners in the wider aviation and transport industries.

Although many believe that unmanned aerial vehicles or drones are a recent invention, unmanned flight has a rich history that goes all the way back to ancient times. The first systems that can be specified under the modern definition of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones include reconnaissance drones developed and deployed during the Cold War period. Today, such systems have evolved and can have different designs. In the last twenty years, many drones with different aerodynamic characteristics, flight endurance, methods and places of launch and acceptance, and even more diverse purposes have been developed. The achievements of modern science, technique, and technology, especially in the field of microelectronics and control systems, have made it possible to design and manufacture drones that are capable of performing controllable flight in a wide range of altitudes, speeds, and distances while performing complex and diverse tasks with almost the same efficiency as well as manned aircraft. This book provides a comprehensive overview of drone technology and applications with chapters on the detection and classification of drones, issues related to electric unmanned aerial vehicles, integrating drones into educational curricula, and the uses of different types of drones in various situations, among other topics.

Woodrow Barfield and Ugo Pagallo present a succinct introduction to the legal issues related to the design and use of artificial intelligence (AI). Exploring human rights, constitutional law, data protection, criminal law, tort law, and intellectual property law, they consider the laws of a number of jurisdictions including the US, the European Union, Japan, and China, making reference to case law and statutes.