The Civil Aviation Authority reckons up to half a million people in the UK may be impacted by its new requirements.
For the transportation sector, the increased regulatory burden could initially hinder the deployment of AI-powered delivery drones. Government and Defense may face slowdowns in using drones for surveillance, search and rescue, and infrastructure inspection, pending compliance of personnel and potentially necessitating investment in more autonomous drone solutions that minimize human oversight.
Operators deploying AI-powered drones, especially in transportation or infrastructure inspection, will need to adapt workflows to incorporate mandatory testing and demonstrate compliance. This may require developing AI systems capable of autonomously passing pre-flight checks, verifying pilot proficiency, and ensuring adherence to airspace regulations.