Ready for Take-off? Integrating Drones into the Transport SystemRecent years have seen rapid developments in drone technology. Today, drones have the potential to
become a reliable technology for civil, commercial and leisure use. However, existing policy frameworks
are often lagging behind technological advances, causing reluctance among potential adopters or
hampering new developments.
This report presents policy options for integrating drones into the wider transport system while reaping
their opportunities and limiting any potential risks. It focuses on standard public concerns related to the
introduction of new transport services, such as their acceptability, efficiency and sustainability. It therefore
goes far beyond the frequently debated safety and security issues of drones. The report considers the use
of drones for different scales of payloads and autonomies, mainly used in freight and passenger transport.
It also looks at drone use cases in the transport sector that go beyond the transport of passengers or goods,
such as their use in the maintenance of transport infrastructure.
The insights and policy options presented in this report build on the collective knowledge of the Working
Group on Drones in the Transport System: Acceptability and Integration by the International Transport
Forum. The group included more than 30 renowned practitioners and academics from 14 countries with
expertise in aviation, transport regulation, mobility systems and urban planning.
