02/03/2026
Statement from the UAAI Comittee
To further clarify some misinformation that has been spread by a few select individuals we would like to highlight the following:
1. The Committee of the UAAI is not, and has never been, in favour of a UGZ in Cork or any restrictions being put on drone pilots/operators in their day to day operations.
2. At the outset, the Committee did not conduct a formal membership poll. Based on extensive prior engagement and consistent feedback from across the community, the Committee considered the membership’s concerns regarding the UGZ to be well understood. We took for granted that our community was against the UGZ and then proceeded to act on the best interests of that community to move forward. So rather than delay engagement through a process that would have confirmed an already established position, the Committee prioritised bringing relevant stakeholders together quickly to work towards an industry-led solution in the best interests of our members.
3. We arranged an online forum so our community had an opportunity to engage directly with Manna and AirNav Ireland so we could take steps to find a solution. This was very successful with Cathal volunteering to give up his time to ensure there were no delays to applications - unprecedented cooperation for which he and the team at AirNav deserve huge credit. The result was an interim solution that facilitated all users both hobby pilots and professional operators.
4. Over the following week, a small but vocal minority engaged in sustained negative and, in many cases, completely false online commentary directed towards the UAAI and, in particular, the Vice Chair. Rather than contributing constructively to resolving the challenges facing operators, this activity offered no practical solutions for the industry and the case in hand and, in several instances, had the entirely opposite effect - complicating engagement efforts and undermining progress toward a workable outcome for all. We engaged extensively with AirNav, IAA, Manna and Cork City Councillors along with CCMP SAR, IRCG to name just a few to continue to try and progress a solution that would lead to a virtually immediate access to the T2 amber zone in Cork.
5. However, a meeting took place to which the UAAI was not a party, during which a number of dramatic and unverified claims were made to AirNav Ireland, including assertions that thousands of drones were operating daily within the amber zone. The effect of these claims and the way it was conveyed was significant. AirNav Ireland was required to reassess the underpinning amber zone safety case and subsequently made a recommendation to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) that the entire Cork amber zone be redesignated as a red zone pending further safety assessment based on this new information. Similar precautionary measures were also recommended for Dublin and Shannon.
6. This represented a major step backwards for the safe and proportionate development of drone operations in Ireland, potentially setting industry progress back by up to a decade and undermining ongoing efforts to reach a practical, collaborative solution — one that the UAAI, the majority of operators and regulators had been actively working to establish.
7. During this period, we learned a small minority submitted a number of disingenuous UF101 forms that appeared to fall outside the scope of the operator approvals. These actions were counterproductive and served only to conflate the issues and further aggravate an already tenuous situation, rather than contribute to a constructive resolution.
8. Because of this misinformation and attempts at overwhelming a fragile interim solution the voluntary support previously being provided by Cathal’s department within AirNav Ireland was withdrawn, meaning operators are now in a more difficult position than immediately following the original announcement of the Cork UGZ. As a growing industry, drone operations require sensible oversight, workable relationships, and sustained collaboration between operators, regulators, and industry bodies. The actions of a small minority have significantly damaged trust and made constructive progress more difficult to achieve. This is hugely disappointing, especially as feedback during the operation of the solution indicated a constructive and workable approach for all. As the sector expands, increased oversight and coordination are a natural part of its development, but such progress relies on stakeholders engaging constructively rather than impeding solutions that were demonstrably working.
It is so disappointing how parts of the community have responded to this situation. Rather than coming together to develop a workable solution - one that remains well within reach - much of the focus has shifted toward unproductive criticism and mudslinging that serves no practical purpose.
The foundations of the proposal initially put forward at the most recent UAAI meeting with buy-in from political, industry bodies and commercial operators demonstrate clear potential and deserve focused engagement to evolve into a regulatory-acceptable framework for Open and Specific Category operations. With refinement, this approach could provide a model for other regions.
The use of UGZs is unlikely to disappear in the near term, one has been operating in Blanchardstown for two years. The priority now must be to work constructively toward solutions that support safe operations, regulatory confidence, and the long-term development of our industry for all use cases — rather than allowing division to undermine progress in a sector we all depend upon. Everyone accepts there will always be difference of opinions, but these attacks on the UAAI go well beyond that.
Once again, the UAAI Committee calls on all stakeholders to work collectively toward an industry-led solution and to move away from negative commentary, particularly the personal attacks that have increasingly become normalised. Such behaviour is neither constructive nor acceptable and does not reflect the standards expected within a professional and growing sector.
This statement will be emailed to all Unmanned Aircraft Association of Ireland members later today, we encourage you to get involved in finding a solution for all.
