ABSTRACT
The European Union (EU) is arguably leading the way in terms of strategy, policy, and the law relating to drones or Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAV's). This chapter sets out to explore this development and the lessons that can be learnt from their approach, first to manned aviation, and then as translated to drones. In so doing, the primary focus is given to (almost) a ten-year period, since the 2015 Aviation Strategy was launched, and the bid to open the skies up to ‘drones.’ The chapter concludes by considering the current position and whether the EU is on track to be the first to integrate these newer modes into the wider aviation eco-system across nations. It finds, in summary, that managing risks is still problematic to Members States.
