Illustrative image (Source: https://www.straitstimes.com) Singapore (VNA) – Singapore’s Parliament on November4 approved the Air Navigation (Amendment) Bill under which, from January 2, 2020, all drones thatweigh more than 250g will have to be registered with the Civil AviationAuthority of Singapore (CAAS) before they can be used in the country.
Penalties for various offences involving unmanned drones willalso be raised.
Under the terms of the bill, first-time offenders could bejailed for up to two years and fined up to 50,000 SGD (nearly 37,000 USD),while repeat offenders could be jailed for up to five years and fined up to 100,000SGD, as part of tightened penalties for offences involving all aircraft.
Currently, first-time offenders caught flying a drone without avalid permit could be fined up to 20,000 SGD (almost 15,000 USD). Repeatoffenders could be jailed for up to 15 months and fined up to 40,000 SGD.
The maximum fine and jail term for flying a drone over aprotected area will also be raised, from 20,000 SGD to 50,000 SGD and from 12months to two years respectively, for first-time offenders.
Repeat offenders previously faced the same penalty for thisoffence but could now be fined up to 100,000 SGD and jailed for up to fiveyears.
Drone users will have a three-month graceperiod from January 2, 2020 to register their devices. They can purchaseregistration labels online or over the counter at designated post offices,before completing the registration online.
Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min said thetightened regulations will help create greater accountability and traceabilityamong users of unmanned aircraft.
The mandatory registration and stifferpenalties come in the wake of two illegal drone incursions that disrupted operations atChangi Airport in June,resulting in 55 flight delays and eight diversions./.
VNA
