This article is dedicated to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in civilian operations. New technologies have greatly evolved in recent years. The progress and innovation are especially visible in the airspace sector thanks to unmanned aerial vehicles. The potential for use of unmanned vehicles is very extensive. Such vehicles are slowly entering our everyday lives and their contributions will continue to grow. Due to the above, the article covers the aspects of their use by various institutions and uniformed forces and the potential for their adaptation to various segments of life, such as medical rescue services, archaeology, environment protection, agriculture, geodesy, and cartography. It also list the hazards and risks associated with their potential for criminal activity and acts of terrorism as well as legal, social, and technical problems, which are under ongoing development due to the dynamic growth of new technologies.