Gov't to consider easing regulations to deploy drones in wildfire battles

The government will consider easing regulations on drones to allow the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, for efforts to put out large wildfires, officials said Thursday.

The envisioned measure was one of three "regulatory sandbox" projects that the Office for Government Policy Coordination has additionally selected in the first half of the year to look into the feasibility of easing or waiving those regulations.

Under the current regulations, it is difficult to deploy drones to put out wildfires because those weighing more than 150 kilograms (330 pounds) are classified as aircraft, require permission to operate and are also prohibited from being flown at night.

If the drone trial proves effective, operators will be allowed to fly at night and to obtain flight permissions retroactively rather than in advance.

"If the aerial firefighting method using fleets of large drones is expanded, it is expected to help secure the golden time and stop the spread of large-scale wildfires," the office said.

Yonhap