Globally, the drone market is projected to be worth $127 billion by 2020, a figure agreed upon by Bloomberg and PWC, which, beyond any doubt, is decisive for finding a share in a market that promises 6,000% growth over the next five years.
According to figures from Drone Industry Insights, the market is not only growing through manufacturers, but services surrounding the industry will contribute a significant portion of the estimated growth.
In Poland, currently a leader in regulating these devices to boost the commercial industry, significant achievements have been made in precision agriculture. An example is drones flying over wheat fields to detect areas where cultivation techniques are failing, and thus, at a fraction of the cost of detecting such anomalies, they can assess the condition of a field in a single sweep.
Commercial Use
The commercial uses of drones are so broad that they range from agriculture to aviation. However, they have faced numerous legal challenges despite their virtues, and not without reason, as they can cross borders, cause damage upon falling, and violate the privacy of third parties.
Some countries have acted with great caution, such as France, which has imposed significant restrictions, while others have sought to intervene in the market as little as possible, like Poland. Colombia has taken a middle ground and has chosen not to regulate non-commercial civilian drones (the only limitation is that they cannot operate over cities), but it has established a very clear legal framework for commercial drones, aiming to define clear rules of the game for the various actors seeking a share of the lucrative drone business that is just beginning to develop rapidly in the country.
The Civil Aviation Authority issued Circular No. 02 for R/PAS or drones intended exclusively for commercial use, thereby excluding those for sports or recreational use. According to this circular, anyone profiting from the use of drones must comply with the following requirements:
- Private pilot license with ground course (lasting about six months);
- 40 flight hours and 200 previous takeoffs and landings, certified by an aviation school;
- Identification and registration of the drone;
- Insurance policy for third-party damages;
- Application with flight plan submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority at least fifteen business days in advance; and
- Drone painted in a color that allows easy identification in the air.
Anyone using a drone must consider that there are geographical and spatial flight restrictions and some mandatory drone characteristics. Geographical restrictions indicate that a drone cannot fly:
- Near airports and military and police bases;
- Near state buildings or local authorities;
- During events with large crowds;
- Within a 1.8 km radius around the President or Vice President of the Republic;
- Near buildings.
Regarding spatial restrictions, one must consider the permitted flight distances:
- Maximum altitude: 152 meters;
- Minimum altitude above an object or person: 50 meters; and
- Maximum travel distance: 750 meters.
Additionally, a drone must:
- Not weigh more than 25 kg;
- Its blades or propellers cannot be metallic; and
- Must be electric.
Fines for those violating these regulations can reach 600 SMMLV (minimum monthly legal wages), without prejudice to damages caused to third parties, which must be compensated separately.