Drones Across the World

Navigating the world’s drone, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), urban air mobility (UAM), and advanced air mobility (AAM) laws is a daunting task. It was one task I thought highly critical to preparing my students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Prescott, Arizona, for a global economy and potential future employment, not to mention fun like this drone show at ERAU during Octoberwest 2022 or this one from 2023. In 2023, PBS ran Behind the Wings: How Drones and eVTOL are changing the World, produced by Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. It is well worth the watch, as fellow attorney Dawn Zoldi presents this cutting-edge technology!Thus, in 2015, I set out to create a course on Global Drone Regulations, which was first offered at ERAU in Spring 2016 as an experimental course, entitled AS 395AA. This first course proved successful, and I have taught it every semester since then, as part of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems, entitled AS 324.In 2023, I continue this work as I develop a curriculum for AAM, with the first course set to go live in Spring 2024.At first I used my personal website as a repository of useful information crucial to the coursework. However, it is now time to formalize the relevant material on my website and create this eTextbook (webbook).Although initially written for AS 324 students at ERAU, I envision it being of great use throughout not just academia, but also to drone business owners and their legal counsel by default.While still copyrighted content, it is freely distributed worldwide under a Creative Commons, non-commercial, and non-derivative license.This webbook is structured the way the United Nations views the globe, in 6 main areas, Northern America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Oceania, Europe, Asia, and Africa. In my course it is intended to be taught in a sequence, but it is also easily searchable by country if used as a reference guide. This webbook has an interactive design with hyperlinks, and authenticated sources, that promotes information literacy. Questions are provided in order to promote discussion and critical thinking, indicative of higher learning