HL Deb 27 January 1997 vol 577 c73WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What, if any, are the limits on the right of owners of remote-controlled unmanned aircraft (or their agents) to fly them within other countries' national air space.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)

The use of pilotless aircraft is governed by Article 8 of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. This states: "No aircraft capable of being flown without a pilot shall be flown without a pilot over the territory of a contracting State without special authorisation by that State and in accordance with the terms of such authorisation. Each contracting State undertakes to ensure that the flight of such aircraft without a pilot in regions open to civil aircraft shall be so controlled as to obviate danger to civil aircraft".