Drone operators face fixed fines for breach of regulations

According to the Irish Aircraft Authority, the ‘administrative sanctions’ are part of the air navigation bill currently before the Dáil

New EU regulations will make it mandatory for larger drones to have a unique identifier number which has to be transmitted to show their location in the air. Picture: Getty

Drone operators who break the rules on their operation are to face on-the-spot fines in a bid to end the light-touch regulation of the sector.

There have been complaints about drones equipped with video recording facilities flying over private homes and into restricted airspace. But the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has taken no enforcement activity in the past four years against drone operators despite a “significant” increase in drone activity.

The IAA has enforcement powers ...