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Drones are not toys, use them responsibly

Civil aviation rules are in place, but enforcement is important if such incidents are to be curbed and the airspace over the city is to be made safe.

Drones are not toys, so stop the games near airports because they are putting lives at risk. Dubai Police have vowed a crackdown on illegal recreational and commercial drone operators, but more needs to be done to regulate the sales and use of the gadgets in the Emirate and across the UAE. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with cameras have already been banned in Dubai because they could be used to snoop on other residents. Sales of these machines, however, continue unchecked in many electronic outlets. Authorities are now promising to keep an eye on the ground to ensure these UAVs don't take off in the first place without proper clearances. Those flouting the rules will be arrested. While doing that, it's also important to frame rules on their import, manufacture and who is allowed to use them. Tough fines and jail terms must be imposed if rules are not followed by operators. On Saturday, operations at Dubai airport were delayed by an hour after drones strayed into the area. Officials said 22 flights were affected.
Civil aviation rules are in place, but enforcement is important if such incidents are to be curbed and the airspace over the city is to be made safe. Police are serious about taking illegal drone operators off the air, away from airports and thickly populated areas. Dubai is one the busiest airports in the world, and this is the third incident involving UAVs that have brought operations to a halt. It's vital that the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, airports, police, manufacturers of these drones, aviation officials and the consumer and economic affairs department work together to curb the misuse of these machines that could do more harm than good if they are not in the right hands. Dubai supports the use of these machines and has even instituted an award for the best UAV developer. The global drone market, however, is largely unregulated. Different rules apply in different countries and regions. The machines are freely available in most supermarkets. Manufacturing standards and materials are a grey area and their quality in most cases is suspect. In this scenario, it's better to be responsible than sorry.