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Norwegian authorities report low drone registration compliance despite campaign efforts

Friday 9th 2024 on 06:53 in  
Norway

Nine months after the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority’s campaign to encourage drone owners to register, only a modest three percent increase in registrations has been observed. This means that fewer than 30,000 out of over 200,000 drone owners in the country have complied with the registration requirement.

Nils Håheim-Saers, a leading expert in drones and safety, suggests that it should be mandatory for all drone owners to verify their identity using bank identification before operating their drones. He believes that this measure could be implemented by the drone manufacturers, thereby ensuring that operators possess the necessary competencies and making it more difficult to use drones for criminal activities.

Despite recognizing the potential risks associated with unregulated drone usage, the Civil Aviation Authority does not support mandatory identification, viewing it as overly intrusive. Operational inspector Hans Petter Heimro stated that more severe measures should be justified by clear administrative reasons.

Currently, Avinor, which manages Norway’s airports, regularly records illegal drone activities. While mandatory identification could theoretically reduce violations, the Authority warns that enforcing different regulatory standards for international manufacturers could pose significant technical challenges.

The Norwegian government is planning to release a new report on drone regulations in the spring, which may suggest mandatory identification in specific vulnerable areas. However, so far, there is no general requirement for registrations before operating drones.

Experts like Håheim-Saers emphasize the need for regulations balancing safety with the interests of drone manufacturers, asserting that a secure society should take precedence over industry concerns.

Source 
(via nrk.no)