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UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM

Georgios Leloudas Orcid Logo, Furkan Bulut

Air and Space Law, Volume: 2026 Volume 1

Swansea University Authors: Georgios Leloudas Orcid Logo, Furkan Bulut

Abstract

Digitalisation and advanced communication technologies are poised to enable the deployment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in non-segregated airspace through Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), including those that are autonomous. This transition shifts the primary source of accident risk from h...

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Published in: Air and Space Law
Published: Kluwer
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71150
first_indexed 2025-12-16T11:57:31Z
last_indexed 2025-12-17T05:26:33Z
id cronfa71150
recordtype SURis
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spelling 2025-12-16T11:58:40.5225191 v2 71150 2025-12-16 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM 0e971cacb2ff8d275bc34532b829256c 0000-0002-9397-4407 Georgios Leloudas Georgios Leloudas true false 7f3dac9919b284dd5902c3d68db67d66 Furkan Bulut Furkan Bulut true false 2025-12-16 HRCL Digitalisation and advanced communication technologies are poised to enable the deployment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in non-segregated airspace through Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), including those that are autonomous. This transition shifts the primary source of accident risk from human error to product defect. . As such, it is critical to assess the adequacy of the relevant compensation mechanisms. The Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA 1987) is the primary tool that imposes strict liability on producers for defective products in the UK; however, it was drafted before the widespread deployment of interconnected cyber-physical systems and self-learning algorithms. This article evaluates the application of the CPA 1987 to UAS, arguing it is unable to cater for digital technologies, including (but not limited) to defining the “product”, establishing post-supply liability, and addressing the burden of proof for AI applications. Furthermore, it argues that reliance on the operator-focused s 76 (2) – (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 transfers the burden of product defects onto UAS operators. Building upon the new EU Product Liability Directive, this article concludes that the existing product liability framework of the UK is inadequate and requires reform. Journal Article Air and Space Law 2026 Volume 1 Kluwer 0 0 0 0001-01-01 COLLEGE NANME Hillary Rodham Clinton Law School COLLEGE CODE HRCL Swansea University 2025-12-16T11:58:40.5225191 2025-12-16T11:25:31.4643818 Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law LLM Shipping and Trade Georgios Leloudas 0000-0002-9397-4407 1 Furkan Bulut 2
title UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM
spellingShingle UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM
Georgios Leloudas
Furkan Bulut
title_short UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM
title_full UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM
title_fullStr UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM
title_full_unstemmed UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM
title_sort UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS AND STRICT PRODUCT LIABILITY IN THE UK: TIME FOR REFORM
author_id_str_mv 0e971cacb2ff8d275bc34532b829256c
7f3dac9919b284dd5902c3d68db67d66
author_id_fullname_str_mv 0e971cacb2ff8d275bc34532b829256c_***_Georgios Leloudas
7f3dac9919b284dd5902c3d68db67d66_***_Furkan Bulut
author Georgios Leloudas
Furkan Bulut
author2 Georgios Leloudas
Furkan Bulut
format Journal article
container_title Air and Space Law
container_volume 2026 Volume 1
institution Swansea University
publisher Kluwer
college_str Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id hillaryrodhamclintonschooloflaw
hierarchy_top_title Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law
hierarchy_parent_id hillaryrodhamclintonschooloflaw
hierarchy_parent_title Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law
department_str LLM Shipping and Trade{{{_:::_}}}Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law{{{_:::_}}}LLM Shipping and Trade
document_store_str 0
active_str 0
description Digitalisation and advanced communication technologies are poised to enable the deployment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in non-segregated airspace through Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), including those that are autonomous. This transition shifts the primary source of accident risk from human error to product defect. . As such, it is critical to assess the adequacy of the relevant compensation mechanisms. The Consumer Protection Act 1987 (CPA 1987) is the primary tool that imposes strict liability on producers for defective products in the UK; however, it was drafted before the widespread deployment of interconnected cyber-physical systems and self-learning algorithms. This article evaluates the application of the CPA 1987 to UAS, arguing it is unable to cater for digital technologies, including (but not limited) to defining the “product”, establishing post-supply liability, and addressing the burden of proof for AI applications. Furthermore, it argues that reliance on the operator-focused s 76 (2) – (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 transfers the burden of product defects onto UAS operators. Building upon the new EU Product Liability Directive, this article concludes that the existing product liability framework of the UK is inadequate and requires reform.
published_date 0001-01-01T05:26:33Z
_version_ 1851731941840125952
score 11.08976

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