Drone delivery: What are the new rules?

Drone delivery is back in the headlines again, as operators are to face fines for any breaches of new rules.

Here are some questions you might need answered to make sure the story doesn’t go over your head.

Why are we droning on about this?

On Wednesday, the Government published a national framework for drones to guide their use and the ongoing regulation of the sector.

The same evening, Dundrum residents aired their concerns at a public meeting on a proposed aerial food delivery hub behind the Holy Cross Church on Main Street in Dublin.

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Who is running the drone delivery service?

Manna, founded in 2018 by Bobby Healy, is the biggest drone delivery service in Ireland with more than 150 employees.

The firm currently operates drone services in Dublin 15, with an operation in Helsinki, a base in Glasnevin and further plans for expansion including Dundrum.

What do they deliver?

It has been well publicised that Manna can airdrop your extra-hot, triple-shot, soy caramel macchiato directly into your back garden, but the service also carries out public service deliveries, as well as food items and books from Eason.

Manna says it gives free delivery to “Gardaí, nurses, and incapacitated people” including the delivery of medicine.

The company has also had some engagement with the HSE on the delivery defibrillators as part of the National Ambulance Service.

Bobby Healy, the chief executive of Manna, the leading Irish drone delivery company, addressed residents' concerns at a public meeting in Dundrum. Photograph: Hugh Dooley/ The Irish Times

What are the local concerns?

Noise and privacy are the two main ones.

Other concerns expressed by residents are how the sector is unregulated, damage from crashes, and the jamming of drones.

Manna says its insurance covers any damage “up to $5 million” (€4.3 million), that its drones do “not record, store, or transmit any data” and that they are fitted with technology to protect against jamming.

Is there regulation?

The publication of the drone framework is the first part of a process in guiding the ongoing regulation of the sector, but it is not true to say the sector is unregulated.

Drone companies must adhere to strict regulation from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) on the safety of its craft and the Data Protection Commission (DPC) in its use of data.

The headlines from the framework are the introduction of fines on drone operators for regulatory breaches, a commitment to develop no-drone zones and a set of “rules of the road” for unmanned aircraft traffic management.

[ Irish cities face ‘dystopian future’ due to drone deliveries, TD warnsOpens in new window ]

Is it noisy?

Mr Healy has admitted on several occasions “the fact that drones do make a noise”.

The company commissioned a report from John Kennedy, associate professor in vibrations, acoustics and dynamics at Trinity College Dublin on its noise impact.

“In plain terms, the drone in cruise is as loud as a person talking; in hover it lands in the same bracket as a washing machine,” the report said, noting it reached 59 DBA during flight and 66-68 DBA while landing.

However, locals who have experienced it have a different assessment; one resident of Dublin 15 said it was “like living close to a helicopter”, whilst another described them as “louder than cars near our house”.