Key facts
- The South Korean government plans to consider easing regulations on drone usage for wildfire suppression.
- This initiative is part of a "regulatory sandbox" project to evaluate potential regulatory waivers.
- Current rules restrict drones over 150kg and prohibit nighttime flights, hindering their use in firefighting.
- The proposed changes could permit nighttime drone operations and post-operation flight permissions.
- The aim is to improve the speed and effectiveness of wildfire containment.
The South Korean government is exploring the possibility of easing regulations to facilitate the deployment of drones in combating large wildfires. Officials announced on Thursday that this measure is one of three "regulatory sandbox" projects selected in the first half of the year to examine the feasibility of relaxing or waiving existing rules.
Under current regulations, drones weighing over 150 kilograms are classified as aircraft, requiring prior flight permission and prohibiting nighttime operations. The proposed changes aim to address these limitations, potentially allowing for nighttime flights and post-operation flight permissions if the use of drones proves effective in firefighting.
The Office for Government Policy Coordination stated that expanding the use of large drone fleets for aerial firefighting is expected to help secure crucial response times and prevent the spread of extensive wildfires.