Under new rules, anyone flying a drone or model aircraft weighing 100g or more outdoors must pass an online Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) theory test to obtain a Flyer ID. Previously, this requirement applied only to drones weighing 250g or more.
Dr McKenna highlights the practical challenges of compliance and enforcement. While he believes most users will seek to comply with the new regulations, he raises doubts about how effectively they can be enforced, suggesting this will largely depend on available regulatory resources.
He notes that some users may still attempt to “fly under the radar”, whether through lack of awareness, carelessness, or reluctance to engage with the rules. Dr McKenna places the changes within a broader context, pointing to wider concerns surrounding drone use, including privacy, environmental impact, and public safety.
Dr McKenna’s research interests focus on emerging technologies, including drones, as well as privacy and data protection. His work also spans asbestos-related issues, information and communication law, and international commercial law. The House of Lords EU Internal Market Committee referenced evidence he provided in its report on the civil use of drones, and his research was again cited during the subsequent House of Lords debate. In addition, evidence provided by Dr McKenna was referenced in the 2019 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report into commercial and recreational drone use in the UK.
Dr McKenna convenes the undergraduate Contract Law module at the University of Kent.
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