Supported by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and being undertaken by Mirragin RAS Consulting, the project is examining best practices for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and will inform the development of an international framework for APEC economies.

As RPA use continues to grow across the Asia-Pacific region, there is expected to be an increase in noise impact concerns. In particular, this can affect residents in urban areas where the use of drones is higher and more widespread for everyday activities, including home deliveries.

Currently, there are no consistent international standards for the measurement or regulation of noise emitted by RPA.

The project will compare the different approaches to manage RPA noise undertaken by APEC economies to identify innovative solutions and practices that should be captured in a new RPA framework.

Establishing a framework will make transferring RPA noise measurements and approvals across regions easier and reduce the regulatory burden for operators and manufacturers.

Findings from the report are anticipated for release in mid-2023.

For more information on the project visit APEC's website.