A drone with sensors flies over Banwol National Industrial Complex in Ansan, 40 kilometers southwest of Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Starting next year, owners of drones weighing up to 2 kilograms or more will have to report their drone to the government.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Wednesday announced legislation of the enforcement ordinance of the Aviation Safety Act, which classifies and manages drones based on their performance and risk levels.
According to the revision, drones will be classified into four stages: model aircraft for toys (250 grams or less); low-risk unmanned aerial vehicles (250 grams to 7 kilograms); high-risk unmanned aerial vehicles (7 kilograms to 25 kilograms); and high-risk unmanned aerial vehicles (25 kilograms to 150 kilograms).
The government will also introduce a drone reporting system, called the “drone real-name system.” The plan requires owners of drones with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 2 kilograms to register their aircraft.
The government plans to make it easy for anyone to register drones via the Internet or smartphone apps.
Meanwhile, the government will also differentiate the ability of drones to fly.
Accordingly, authorities plan to require pilots of small hobby drones to receive online training.
To fly drones weighing more than 2 kilograms, owners will have to accumulate a certain amount of flight experience and take written and practical tests.
In addition, even in no-fly zone, it will be possible to fly drones within an altitude of 20 meters for the purpose of education under the supervision of a designated leader, and the government will set up and implement operational guidelines.
“To develop the drone industry, it is more important than anything else to dispel public anxiety about drones that have the potential to impact our daily life,” said Kim Sang-do, head of the ministry’s Civil Aviation Office.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
