Minister Berner: Finnish aviation regulation a benchmark for the EU

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 9.10.2015 9.55
News item
Minister Berner
Minister Berner

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency, Trafi, issued a new aviation regulation on 9 October 2015 on unmanned aircraft and flying models. Ms Anne Berner, Minister of Transport and Communications of Finland, hopes that the Finnish modern and liberal regulation could be a benchmark within the EU and internationally. "This aviation regulation enables testing of aviation robotics, for example, without risking safety. The regulation has been drafted and prepared on a totally new basis. In a sparsely populated Finland the possibilities to test unmanned aircraft are very different from, for example, densely populated Central Europe," Minister Berner says. The regulation by Trafi can be described as the most liberal in Europe. It allows the use of remote-controlled aircraft also elsewhere than in areas appointed for it or prohibited from other aviation. Even though the new regulation is light, it includes many safety requirements. The level of regulation is determined by the use of the device.

If a remote-controlled aircraft or flying model is used for photographing, it should be born in mind that all provisions on inviolability of domicile, protection of privacy, immaterial rights, and Finland's territorial surveillance and imperilment also apply to such operations, even if these matters are not specifically included in the aviation regulation.