Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport

Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Discussion

2:00 am

Mr. Bobby Healy:

It is just to have spares. With aircraft, there are maintenance issues and if there are any questions, you use a spare. We only have permission to fly four drones out of the shopping centre right now.

On gardens, that is the big one. I have one great example of a cul-de-sac of ten houses, nine of which are using the service and one that is not. I had a complaint from that one household. We fully accept that we need to have a debate on this area and we need regulations on the particular use for drones. I have no objections to that; in fact, I would embrace it.

On the point about decibels, when a drone arrives overhead it descends to 15 m, which is the noisiest part of the process. It is pretty loud - I will admit that - at about 59 dB. We will bring that down to about 55 dB with our new propellers and mass production.

If I may follow up on Deputy Currie's question because I missed part of it, the level is not 52 dB today. That is our target for when we reduce the weight of the aircraft, have new propellers and go to 80 m altitude. Right now, it is over 52 dB; is actually 57 dB.

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