UAE Press: Stop treating drones as toys

With every new technology, there eventually comes the need to regulate it. That time has now come for drones, and the recent decision by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority to crack down on their sale and registration is a much welcome announcement, said a UAE daily.

"Drones have become amazingly helpful in providing new services, which include everything from home delivery of products to security. Drones will likely play a far greater role in everyone’s future, making their use a matter of public safety," said Gulf News in an editorial on Wednesday.

The paper continued, "We have seen over the past few years the downside of unregulated drones. Drones can be used for just about everything from the unscrupulous, such as illegally monitoring people, to the careless, such as flying them in areas where they can cause harm to other people, such as airports.

"The situation in and around airports is particularly a concern, since aeroplanes will cease take-offs and landings to ensure public safety if they discover an unauthorised drone in the area. The economic impact from such a scenario is enormous.

"Part of the reason there is still a problem is that many people, including companies, see drones as toys and have been selling them as such without following proper procedures and without proper training to ensure their safe use. There are some drones that certainly are toys, but even a small toy can be harmful if it gets sucked into an aeroplane’s engine. Larger drones can be an even greater threat if not handled properly.

"Every drone needs to be registered, regardless of its size or function, just as every vehicle, from a small compact car to a lorry, should be registered with the transport authorities," concluded the Dubai-based daily.