UK to tighten rules on drones after near-misses with planes

British officials announced plans Saturday to further regulate drone use in a bid to prevent accidents and threats to commercial aviation. The new rules will require drones that weigh 8 ounces or more to be registered and users will have to pass a safety awareness exam. The govt acted because of concerns that a mid-air collision between a drone and an aircraft could cause a major disaster. Pilots have reported numerous near-misses in the last year alone in Britain. Earlier this month London's Gatwick briefly closed its runway over safety concerns when a drone was spotted in the area and several planes had to be diverted. The British Airline Pilots Association said independent tests show even a small drone could cause severe damage to a helicopter or an airline windscreen. <br/>