Drone users in Singapore will soon have to register themselves in order to continue using their devices.

This was announced by Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min in Parliament on July 8.

Banning drones not ideal

Lam was answering questions from MPs on the recent drone intrusions in the vicinity of Changi Airport, which delayed 55 flights and diverted another eight on June 18 and 24.

"Police investigations into the drone intrusions are ongoing. We have learnt from the experiences of other airports that identifying the perpetrators can be challenging and will take time," said Lam.

He added that the government takes a "multi-agency approach" to detect and prevent drones from affecting air traffic and endangering public safety.

Instead of enforcing a blanket ban, as suggested by some, Lam said that it is important to take a balanced approach towards drones as they have beneficial uses such delivery, inspection, recreation and education.

Drones are currently not allowed within 5km of aerodromes unless users have a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

"We assessed this no fly zone parameter to be sufficient," said Lam.

First company charged for flouting drone rules

One company pleaded guilty on July 8 to operating a drone without a permit.

This is the first time a company is charged with flouting drone regulations.

The civil engineering company, LT Sambo Co, had flown a drone over a road in Marine Parade on November 17, 2017 to capture aerial footage of the area for construction work.

While the company did have a proposed flight plan in its application, it was rejected by CAAS because the proposed flight posed a danger to property and personal safety, reported CNA.

The company went ahead with their drone activity without securing the proper permit, and was fined S$9,000.

Current financial penalties notwithstanding, Lam said that the Ministry of Transport (MOT) will be tightening the approach to regulating drone use and deal with errant drone users more harshly.

Compulsory registration for all drones, stricter penalties

One such new measure is a mandatory registration regime for all drones operating in Singapore.

Operators of larger, more capable drones will also have to undergo a licensing framework.

This will ensure that drone operators will be adequately briefed on their responsibilities and ensure that they operate their drones responsibly.

MOT is also looking into enforcing stricter penalties against errant drone operators such as increasing fines.

Lam added that the CAAS has established an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Advisory Panel earlier this year to review the current drone regulatory framework and recommend enhancements if needed.

"As with other forms of disruptive innovation, finding the right balance in terms of regulations will take time, particularly since drone technology continues to evolve quickly," he said.

Top photo by Jared Brashier on Unsplash