(1)Reasons for Proposal

This Partial Amendment aims to reduce public inconvenience by enabling pilots of unmanned aerial vehicles among ultra-light vehicles to apply for approval to fly in an airspace within which the flight of ultra-light vehicle is restricted, when applying for approval to fly at night, etc., delegate the authority to approve nighttime flights of unmanned aerial vehicles to local aviation offices, entrust the duty of air transport businesses such as airlines, etc., to make public announcements on safety investment to specialized institutions, etc., thereby prescribing matters delegated to it under the Amendment to the Aviation Safety Act (Act No. 16643, promulgated on Nov. 26, 2019, to enter into force on May 27, 2020) as well as other matters necessary for their enforcement.

(2) Major Provisions

A. Expansion of the scope of unmanned aerial vehicles subject to reporting (Article 24, subparagraph 5)

In accordance with the modification to the criteria for classification of drones and amendment to the management system, drones subject to reporting shall be based not on their empty weight (excluding fuel) but on the maximum takeoff weight, and aerial vehicles with maximum takeoff weight including fuel exceeding 2 kg shall file reports.

B. Delegation of authority to make and/or revoke designation as Approved Training Organization for light vehicles to local offices (Article 26 (1) 46-2)

Regular inspection, etc., of Approved Training Organizations for training of aviation personnel is delegated to local offices, but the same duty with respect to Approved Training Organizations for light vehicles is currently excluded, and requires change.

C. Delegation of authority to approve flights of unmanned aerial vehicles to local offices (Article 26 (1) 55-2)

Approvals of special flights which are currently made at the main office shall be delegated to local aviation offices so that such approvals may be processed together with approvals for permission to fly in restricted airspace.

D. Entrustment of training of unmanned aerial vehicle pilots to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (Article 26 (6) 11)

Education and training, etc., of pilots shall be entrusted to the Korea Transportation Safety Authority to enable efficient utilization of ultra-light vehicle pilots and improve their operation capabilities in accordance with Article 126 (7) of the Aviation Safety Act.

E. Provision of a legal basis for entrusting inspection of detailed statements, etc., on safety investment by air transport businesses for public announcement to the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (Article 26 (10) 6)