Question to the Department for Transport:

Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking regarding restrictions on drones, particularly in controlled airspace, in the light of the closure of the runway at Gatwick Airport in July.

Regulations are already in place prohibiting the misuse of drones and offences exist in order to deter and, if necessary, prosecute operators for malicious or negligent use. Under the Air Navigation Order 2016, it is an offence to endanger an aircraft and if convicted, a person can face a prison sentence of up to 5 years.

The Government takes the safety risks of drones to aviation very seriously. We have already taken action on this by working with the Civil Aviation Authority and industry to raise awareness of the rules amongst drone operators and the general public. The Government intends to introduce further measures once we have fully analysed the evidence presented through our consultation process. We are exploring options, such as improving deterrents for the misuse of drones and measures to improve communication to drone users of ‘no drone flying zones’. The Government response to the consultation will be published in the near future.