Abstract:
This thesis seeks to study on the unmanned aerial vehicle (hereinafter: UAV) under Thai Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497 by comparing with the same rules and regulations of the relevant international organization and those of the United States of America (hereinafter: USA), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter: UK), and the Republic of Singapore (hereinafter: Singapore).
According to the study, the Chicago Convention 1944, in which there is only one rule regarding UAV, namely Article 8 of the Convention, which states that no unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of flying over the territory of a contracting State without special authorization by the State. For the USA, UK and Singapore, these states possess particular rules and regulations on UAV including its definition, classification, registration, Airworthiness Certificate acquisition, Documents carried in aircraft, air operation, accident investigate of UAV. These particular rules and regulations aim to systematize the operation of the UAV so as to restrain damage or human rights violation. Moreover, investigation of the UAV accident is compulsory in order to prevent reoccurence of the accident in the future. As for Thailand, UAV regulations only exist in one article of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497 which serves to implement Article 8 of the Chicago Convention 1944, the regulation No. 94 on the air traffic of the Thailand Civil Aviation Committee, and in the Ministerial Regulation of the Ministry of Transport Concerning Authorization and Conditions on Regulating the Operation of Pilotless Aircraft Based on External Control B.E. 2558 as well as in the regulation No. 95 on nationality and registration marks, pad and aircraft. However, such regulations are not explicit and inclusive enough and thus lead to problems in legal interpretation and UAV operate control.
As a result, novel and specific regulations regarding UAV or an amendment of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497 is strongly recommended.