DJI, the world's leading maker of unmanned aerial vehicles, for your information is forwarding this statement issued earlier Thursday by the Drone Manufacturers Alliance:
New Canadian Regulations on Drones Will Hurt Innovation and Stall Growth
Drone Manufacturers Alliance Prioritizes Pilot Education and Safety Technology
March 16, 2017 – The Drone Manufacturers Alliance, the organization representing manufacturers of the majority of civilian drones, believes new drone regulations announced today by Transport Canada will provide a negligible increase in safety while sharply curtailing the ability of Canadians to explore and photograph their country and teach their children about science and technology.
“These sudden regulations, imposed without input from Canada’s tens of thousands of responsible drone pilots, will hurt innovation and education without a corresponding improvement in safety,” said Kara Calvert, Director of the Drone Manufacturers Alliance. “The overwhelming majority of Canadian drone pilots operate safely and responsibly, and they are the ones who will be hurt by far-reaching restrictions – not the tiny number of irresponsible operators who have already violated existing drone safety rules. The Drone Manufacturers Alliance expects all our members’ customers to fly safely and responsibly, and our years of experience show that technology and education provide a better solution than a hastily-written ban."
Aviation authorities around the world have never recorded a single confirmed collision between a civilian drone and a traditional aircraft. Indeed, many initial drone sightings reported by aircraft pilots have turned out to be birds, balloons or even a plastic bag. Many aviation authorities, rescue services and businesses rely on drones to assist at locations ranging from airport structures to wildfires, and a blanket ban on small personal drones has the potential to hurt those operations without any corresponding increase in safety.
About Drone Manufacturers Alliance
The Drone Manufacturers Alliance is a coalition of industry leaders, including 3DR, DJI, GoPro and Parrot that serves as the voice for drone manufacturers and customers across civilian, governmental, recreational, commercial, nonprofit and public safety applications. The coalition advocates for policies that promote innovation and safety for all users of small drones, and create a practical and responsible regulatory framework. To learn more, visit: http://dronemanufacturersalliance.org.
