INTERNATIONAL LEGAL APPROACHES TO REGULATING THE OPERATION OF UNMANNED AVIATION SYSTEMS: PROSPECTS FOR THE NATIONAL LEGISLATION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article analyzes international legal approaches to the legal regulation of the operation of unmanned aircraft systems.Proposals for national legislation in the specified area of public relations are formulated. The need to develop a «Concept for the Development of the National System of Training and Admission of UAV Operators to Perform Flights in the Unified Airspace of Ukraine for 2026–2036» is substantiated. The goals of the above-mentioned Concept are determined, which are aimed at forming a single regulatory framework for the training of UAV operators of different levels and specializations; ensuring mutual compatibility of training programs in the military and civilian sectors; implementing international standards (in particular ICAO, EASA, NATO STANAG) into the national certification system; creating mechanisms for state and public control over the quality of training; developing educational and training infrastructure (including virtual simulators, training grounds and test sites); stimulating innovations in the field of operator training methods, in particular, taking into account the experience of combat use of UAVs. The need for a phased implementation of the Concept has been proven, through in- tegration in organizational, technical and regulatory dimensions. The priority task of the state aviation policy in the field of unmanned aviation development has been determined, which is the safe integration of manned and unmanned aircraft into the single airspace of Ukraine. Attention is focused on areas for improving the training and admission of UAV operators by introducing a multi-level national qualification system, depending on the class of devices, conditions and complexity of flights. Despite existing initiatives to regulate the legal status of UAVs, Ukraine lacks a single, systematically coordinated regulatory and legal framework that would cover all aspects of their operation – from classification and registration to issues of jurisdiction, liability, and interaction between various public administration entities.