Development of a European market for civil unmanned air vehicles will surge dramatically around 2009-10 as air traffic integration and certification issues are overcome, says the newly released European civil UAV roadmap.

It says Europe needs to act now to take the lead in developing the technologies to meet this burgeoning market.

The roadmap has come out of two projects: the European Commission-funded UAVNET and Civil UAV Applications and Economic Effectivity of Potential Configurations (CAPECON). The roadmap projects the civil UAV market will double from forecast new revenues of €8.5 million ($10.5 million) in 2006 to €15.5 million in 2007. By 2008 revenues will have doubled again to €31 million.

Source and more info: Flight International