On 9 June 2026, Air Chief Marshal Manat Chavanaprayoon, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), was invited by Police General Visanu Prasattongosoth, President of the FBI National Academy Alumni Association of Thailand (FBINAA Thailand), to serve as a special guest speaker at the 26th FBI National Academy Associates Asia Pacific Chapter Retraining Conference.
During the conference, the CAAT Director General delivered a presentation entitled “The Dual-Edge of Drone and Anti-Drone Warfare”, sharing insights and experiences on the rapidly growing role of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) across civil, industrial, and security sectors, as well as the challenges and risks arising from their misuse.
The presentation highlighted the evolution of drone technology and its expanding applications in areas such as surveying, agriculture, transportation, and public service operations, while also addressing emerging security and law enforcement concerns. Participants exchanged views on potential threats associated with UAS operations, including unauthorized incursions into restricted areas, disruptions to airport operations, illicit activities, and the use of drones in conflict environments.
As Thailand’s civil aviation regulator, CAAT shared its approach to UAS oversight, which aims to strike a balance between fostering technological innovation and maintaining safety, security, and efficient airspace management. The presentation covered Thailand’s regulatory framework for drone registration, remote pilot certification, operational limitations, airspace requirements, and safety oversight measures designed to ensure compliance with national regulations and international standards.
The session also explored developments in Counter-UAS technologies, including drone detection, tracking, and mitigation systems, as well as the importance of cooperation among civil aviation authorities, security agencies, law enforcement organizations, and international partners in addressing increasingly sophisticated and evolving threats.
CAAT’s participation as a speaker at the conference reflects international recognition of Thailand’s capabilities and experience in UAS regulation and oversight. It also underscores the importance of collaboration between the aviation sector and security communities in responding to challenges posed by emerging technologies and transnational threats in the digital age.
The FBI National Academy Associates Asia Pacific Chapter Retraining Conference serves as a key platform for senior executives and law enforcement professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices in addressing complex security challenges and transnational organized crime. The 2026 conference was held under the theme “United in Action: Combating Transnational Organized Crime in the Digital Age.”
