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The increasing use of drones, particularly for delivery services, raises questions about their carbon footprint and environmental impact, according to aviation authorities.
The proliferation of drones has brought its own challenges and global debates on their use and handling, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) noted.
Derrick Luembe, the CAA Director-General, conveyed these concerns in a speech read on his behalf by John Mandona, the Authority’s Director for Flight Safety Standards, during a workshop held in Lusaka on Tuesday titled “Drones in Transport and Trade Facilitation.”
Luembe highlighted that the rapid proliferation of drones has outpaced regulatory frameworks in many countries.
“Governments are struggling to establish comprehensive rules that balance innovation with safety, security, and privacy concerns,” Luembe said.
Additionally, integrating drones into controlled airspace alongside manned aircraft poses logistical and safety challenges. Systems for managing drone traffic and ensuring safe operations are still developing.
“Drones equipped with cameras raise concerns about privacy infringement, especially in residential areas or sensitive locations. There are also security concerns regarding the potential for drones to be used for malicious purposes,” Luembe added.
He emphasized the need for effective counter-drone technology, including systems to detect, track, and mitigate unauthorized drones near sensitive locations like airports, government buildings, and public events.
Battery disposal and the energy consumption of drone operations were also highlighted as areas of concern.
“Drones are being explored for various infrastructure applications such as inspections (e.g., of power lines, pipelines, and buildings), delivery services, and agriculture (e.g., crop monitoring),” Luembe noted.
He pointed out challenges related to the scalability, reliability and regulatory approval for these applications.
Read More: Zambia set to establish a centre for manufacture of drones
Advances in drone technology, including autonomy, artificial intelligence capabilities, and miniaturization, raise both opportunities and concerns regarding their widespread adoption and potential uses.
During the same workshop, Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner-General, Dingani Banda, stated that the use of drones aligns with the authority’s vision of modernizing infrastructure and improving trade facilitation.
“Drones represent a significant advancement in technology with potential applications in many fields, including transport and trade. Drones can streamline logistics, providing faster delivery times and real-time monitoring of goods in transit,” Banda said.
World Bank Transport Specialist Dickson Ndhlovu added that the bank considers the use of digital technology and drones as enablers for increasing efficiency and maximizing the impact of development projects.
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