Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 10th March, 2023.

The Irish Aviation Authority, pursuant to sections 5 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 65 and 67 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (No. 29 of 1993), hereby orders as follows:

Citation

1. This Order may be cited as the Irish Aviation Authority (Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2023.

Amendment of the Principal Order

2. The Principal Order is amended in regulation 2, by inserting the following definitions:

“Counter-UAS System” means a system for the detection, classification, monitoring or neutralisation of unauthorised UAS.

“Aerodrome operator certified in accordance with the EASA Regulations” means the operator of an aerodrome holding a certificate issued in accordance with Article 36 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.

3. The Principal Order is amended by inserting after Article 21 the following:

21A. (1) An aerodrome operator certified in accordance with the EASA Regulations may deploy a Counter-UAS System (C-UAS) for use within the aerodrome, subject to the approval of the Authority.

(2) If it appears to an aerodrome operator certified in accordance with the EASA Regulations that a UAS is being operated in such a manner as to cause a risk to the safety of civil aviation or give rise to a requirement to protect people or property, the aerodrome operator shall be entitled to take such steps as appear necessary to ensure the safety of civil aviation and/or public safety, as appropriate.

Present when the common seal of the Irish Aviation Authority was affixed hereto

7 March 2023

ROSE HYNES,

Director

DECLAN FITZPATRICK,

Director

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

This Order sets out the necessary national measures to provide for the authorisation, deployment and use of Counter-UAS System (C-UAS) within a certified aerodrome.