BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) — Belizean authorities are moving to clamp down on the use of drones amid concerns that they pose a security risk for aircrafts.

The country’s Department of Civil Aviation has launched a public consultation on the new rules for drones, and according to the Director of Civil Aviation, Nigel Carter, the operational directive will replace the current patchwork of approvals, require licensing, limit where drones can fly, and align Belize with international standards.

“The primary area of concern is aircraft safety. In Belize, aeroplanes often operate at about 500 feet even when en route. We have to be very careful not to mix manned and unmanned aircraft in the same vicinity, lest we reduce the level of safety,” Carter said.

The new rules will cover recreational and commercial drone use, as drones have become essential tools for farmers, surveyors and businesses using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map land, monitor crops and manage fields more efficiently.

But drone operators are raising red flags because these rules aren’t optional. They say that the directive would carry the full force of law, and noncompliance could result in penalties.

The drone operators have called an emergency meeting for this week to discuss the situation, even as Carter explained that the public consultation process is a key part of implementing the rules.

“We are receiving information and concerns from the drone-operating public. After reviewing those, we will meet with operators to explain where we stand on each issue,” he said, adding, “If we don’t protect manned aviation, it could be disastrous. It could have severe socioeconomic impacts on Belizean society.”

He said that the Civil Aviation is now receiving information, or concerns from the drone operating public, which is the intent of the consultative process, “for us to understand and hear people, after which we will review those concerns and then we will meet with the drone operating public to basically explain to them where we stand on each of those concerns”.

The proposed directive would set clear, mandatory rules for all drone use in Belize, replacing the patchwork of approvals now in place. It would standardise licensing and operating limits, while bringing Belize’s drone laws in line with international aviation standards used in the United States, Europe and by global aviation authorities.