Its 247-page paper, ‘Aviation autonomy’, published this week, considers how regulators should adapt to developments where ‘automation will change or make redundant existing human roles, such as that of the pilot’. It covers a wide range of future scenarios, including ‘drones and advanced air mobility vehicles, such as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, which can provide short journeys for a small number of people’.
The consultation seeks views on safety, civil and criminal liability, the rules of the air which all aircraft must follow when in flight, and other regulatory aspects. Conundrums include whether a self-flying aircraft should be able to depart from the rules if absolutely necessary in the interests of safety.
View the consultation here and respond by 27 May.
