Unmanned Aircraft and International Policy

Unmanned aircraft have moved from military niche to everyday tool. International aviation law is still catching up.

A new kind of airspace user

The Chicago Convention was written for aircraft with pilots aboard. Unmanned aircraft, from small hobby drones to large military systems, challenge many of its assumptions: who is the pilot in command, how are aircraft identified, and how do they avoid collisions without a person looking out the window?

ICAO's work

ICAO uses the term remotely piloted aircraft systems for unmanned aircraft flown by a remote pilot and has developed standards to integrate them into international airspace alongside crewed aircraft. National regulators, such as the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States, set rules for domestic operations.

Export control

Large unmanned aircraft capable of carrying significant payloads over long distances are subject to export controls because of their potential use as weapons delivery systems. Multilateral export control arrangements and national laws govern their transfer, making sales of such systems a matter for diplomacy as well as commerce.

Security and conflict

Unmanned aircraft have become central to modern conflict, raising questions about sovereignty, the use of force, and accountability. Governments debate these questions in the United Nations and other forums.

Civil uses

At the same time, unmanned aircraft deliver medical supplies, inspect infrastructure, support disaster response, and conduct scientific research. International cooperation on standards is what will allow those benefits to cross borders safely.