Parliament Adopts Draft Law “On Additions and Amendments to the Air Code of the Republic of Belarus” at First Reading

On 20 December 2017, at a regular meeting of the House of Representatives, the parliamentarians discussed and adopted at the fi rst reading the draft law “On Additions and Amendments to the Air Code of the Republic of Belarus” introduced by members of the House of Representatives. The report on the draft law was made by Chairman of Goscomvoyenprom Oleg Dvigalev.
By the Presidential Decree No. 164 dated 13 April 2015, Goscomvoyenprom is entrusted with
powers of a specially authorised body in the field of experimental aviation of the Republic of Belarus.
According to Oleg Dvigalev, law enforcement practice identifi ed a number of gaps in the Air Code, which do not allow Goscomvoyenprom to fully and qualitatively implement its authority in the fi eld of experimental aviation. “A number of requirements and regulations of the Air Code regulate legal relations only in the field of civil aviation, while they should also be applied to state and experimental aviation,” said the chairman of Goscomvoyenprom. “The Belarusian legislation does not regulate the relations connected with the use of unmanned aerial systems,” he added.
The proposed amendments to the Air Code will improve the registration of aircraft, certifi cation of aviation items, organisation, implementation and support of UAV and experimental aircraft fl ights, as well as enhance safety requirements and remove existing legal gaps that prevent Goscomvoyenprom from fully exercising its powers as an authorised body in the field of experimental aviation.