French Polynesia: Unmanned Aerial System Laws, Air Space (Essay Sample)

Aviation
Student’s Name
Institution
Aviation
Unmanned Aerial System Laws
Drones spotted flying near the nuclear plants and civil aviation ports resulted in a review of laws to facilitate smooth drone implementation. Drones are also referred to as the aircraft systems that are remote-controlled. French Polynesia laws on drones classify the aerial vehicles according to their source of power, control mechanisms, models and maximum takeoff weight (Willan, 2016). French Polynesia law insists that the operator of any drone has a pilot’s license to operate the aerial vehicle. Additionally, drones that move away from their pilots must be equipped with security and surveillance systems to avoid damaging property. Some drones have destroyed people’s property in the past hence there is a need for surveillance. The law also requires drones and their users to have insurance that can cover loss in the event of an accident or damaged property (Willan, 2016).
Drone operators are required to fly the vehicles away from over populated or crowded places. Some drone pilots have been charged with offences for endangering human lives under the article 223-1 of the Criminal Code when flying the aerial crafts in places with many people (Willan, 2016). Unauthorized photography by drones is also prohibited by the French Polynesia law. A revision of the French Polynesia law regarding drones has been proposed to enhance their development in the country. Some previous laws were too strict and discriminatory in nature. The proposal also considers reviewing the use of cameras in the drone models that are in test (Willan, 2016). French Polynesia legislation also removed the need for initial permits for drone pilots. Moreover, drones have been allowed to use the air space giving a priority to the military and civil aviation operators. All commercial drones must have appropriate certification and insurance.
Air Space
French Polynesia aerospace is divided into A, C, D, E and G classes. The classification is in tandem with the France air regulations. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) must always give a permit to flights at more than 250Kts, because most flights are granted a lower speed level (Rspc, 2016). French Polynesia aerospace permits planes to go not less than 1500 feet, because any aircraft flying below this level is likely to collide with military planes. The A, C, D, E and G classifications imply restriction capabilities. A major part of the French Polynesia aerospace falls under the G category where flying is allowed (Rspc, 2016). The area under the class G makes a plane visible from both the sky and the ground. Aerospace A is highly restricted. An example of a restricted region is the capital city. French civil aviation in cooperation with country’s military have placed restrictions on the access to national aerospace to grant permission to fly in some restricted zones when required. Following the attack on the twin towers in America, French civil aviation prohibited flying around or above capital cities like Paris.
Exceptions to the capital cities restriction rule are possibly for civil passenger planes that must fly above 2 kilometers. Military jets also have a permission to fly in the capital city for security and surveillance purposes. However, the Ministry of Defense must be aware of any flight around capital cities. The aerial space around the city of Paris is also restricted for helicopters. Special police permission allows for helicopter ambulances or dignitary planes to fly to specific locations. All planes within Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) segment must submit their flight plans to ATC. At the same time, VFR flights crossing French Polynesia border must also file their flight plans (Rspc, 2016). Most of the airports in French Polynesia operate in French language. Thus, pilots must have translators for convenience.
France Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC)
France Civil Aviation Authority operates under the Ministry of Transport and is led by the general director. DGAC has many subordinate offices that support its function. These include air transportation, directorate for civil aviation, air navigation services and the general secretariat (DGAC, 2016). Their main job is to coordinate the air space travel and ensure safety. They also play a role in balancing environmental protection and development. In security matters, the firm ensures that each plane is authorized to use the airspace of France. Any incoming plane must request permission from the ATC to enter the air space. Each airplane must file its flight plan to the ATC for planning purposes (DGAC, 2016). Planes that fail to use the ATC directive risk colliding with other aircrafts.
French Polynesia Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the inspection and certification of airplanes to allow them into the airspa...