EU Drone / Model Aircraft Laws – 11 Questions

Actually, I was planning to go into battle mode today in light of the introduction of the EASA1 drone and model aircraft regulations. But since there’s been little concrete information so far and many of us are willing to view the whole thing as the “lesser of two evils,” I’m going to try my hand at earning a degree in high diplomacy. The most efficient way to do this is with a few exam questions—please use only the term “assessment” when referring to this in aviation.

1. Why all this? Where is the added value for society?
2. How many officials in the EU and Switzerland are dealing with a problem that model aviation has never faced, and what does all of this cost us taxpayers?
3. Who believes that, based on the agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the EU on air transport (1999), we are required to adopt these drone/model aircraft laws?
4. Who knows for sure that exceptions are possible?
5. Why do reports on the FOCA’s websites and in the media focus almost exclusively on drones?
6. Why did the FOCA state in June 2017 that, based on experience with the safe operation of drones and model aircraft, it did not wish to introduce restrictive rules?
7. Have there been any striking differences between drone-related complaints and reports and those involving model aircraft since 2017?
8. Wouldn’t it be better to develop sensible regulations for the use of drones in Switzerland in
   case EU laws prove insufficient?
9. How much longer will model aircraft flying continue to be adversely affected by the authorities’ inability to address the drone boom?
10. Does a creative and educational hobby need new regulations in a liberal country?
11. Should young people in the future focus solely on video games, because otherwise they run the risk of turning to crime?

It is clear that not all questions can be answered. For some of the remaining issues, we will be assisted by impartial experts. It will likely take some time before the “four-year fog” begins to lift. I therefore ask all examination experts for a little patience.

Best regards
, Emil Ch. Giezendanner