Just before Christmas, the industrial association UAV DACH published a document with „6 demands for effective and efficient drone detection and countermeasures”. The response was mixed. While some aspects were mostly welcomed, the call for mandatory use of ADS-L technology in the lowest airspace and restrictions on private drone usage faced criticism. Now, six associations have entered the discussion with a joint position paper.

There is a broad consensus on the need for safe flight operations, cooperative interaction between manned and unmanned aviation in the lowest airspace, and effective measures to combat violations of existing laws and regulations regarding illegal drone usage. However, opinions differ significantly on how to achieve these goals.

UAV DACH, as an industrial association and representative for commercial UAS operations, took the initiative at the end of last year by formulating six demands aimed at effective detection and defense against illegally operated drones, prompting outrage among some other interest groups.

Support and rejection

The demands for establishing a unified air traffic picture, creating a European competence center for drone detection and countermeasures, defining all possible threat scenarios posed by illegally used UAS, and implementing targeted funding programs for industry-related research garnered general support. However, Deutscher Modellflieger Verband (DMFV), Bundesverband Coper Piloten (BVCP), Deutscher Hubschrauber Verband (DHV), Deutscher Fallschirmsport Verband (DFV), Deutsche Modellsport Organisation (DMO), and Deutscher Hängegleiterverband (DHV) expressed criticism in their joint position paper regarding the proposed impleme…