While it will probably be a long time before someone flies to your door in an Iron Man suit to deliver your Amazon package, having a package delivered by drone is closer than we think.
Used mainly for recreational purposes as well as in media and entertainment, drones are slowly but surely gaining ground in commerce, too. How close we are to having our packages delivered with the help of drones depends largely on how soon certain legislative gaps are filled.
Companies in the trade and logistics sectors are intrigued by the potential benefits drone technology could bring to delivery services. In fact, the authorities have begun to create a regulatory framework for the use of drones in the European Union, following the example of the United States, where drones are already being flown at an early stage for various commercial delivery activities.
In 2020, common rules for the use of drones in the EU area, published in 2019 by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, entered into force. They create universal guidelines for what drone operators in the EU may or may not do. Also, with effect from 31 December 2020, EU Regulation 2019/947 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft systems ("UAS") applies in EU Member States.
For a more detailed overview on the potential of drone deliveries and on legislation applicable for using and operating drones, please see our blog.
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