By - Raghav Gaind on April 2, 2019
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is an Indian regulatory body under the administration of the Ministry of Civil aviation. DGCA issues various rules and regulations to promote safe and efficient air transportation and reduce the aviation accidents. On August 27th, 2018 the DGCA has released Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) i.e. the National Drone Policy 2018. This policy focuses on the 'Requirements for Operation of Civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)’. As per this policy Flying of Remotely Piloted Aircrafts or drones, will be legal across India. This policy has been issued in compliance with the provisions of Rule 15A and Rule 133A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and stipulates the requirements for obtaining Unique Identification Number (UIN), Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP) and other operational requirements for civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). The Policy shall come into force from December 1st, 2018 with an objective to explore and manage the opportunities in the Indian civil aviation sector.
The National Policy on Drones 2018 is applicable to Civil Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, which are Remotely Piloted from a Remote Pilot Station.
On the basis of the weight of the drones it can be divided into five categories. These are following:
Sr. No. | Categories | Maximum weight of RPA |
Nano | Less than or equal to 250 grams | |
Micro | Greater than 250 grams and less than or equal to 2 kg. | |
Small | Greater than 2 kg and less than or equal to 25 kg. | |
Medium | Greater than 25 kg and less than or equal to 150 kg. | |
Large | Greater than 150 kg. |
As per Civil Aviation Requirements 2018 every RPA or drones shall require Unique Identification Number by the DGCA. It shall be granted to the owner of drone who may be a citizen of India, central or state government, a company registered in India.
However, Unique Identification Number shall not be required for RPA in Nano category intended to fly up to 50 feet (15 m) Above Ground Level (AGL) in uncontrolled airspace/ enclosed premises for commercial / recreational / R&D purposes. RPAs owned by National Technical Research Organization (NTRO), Aviation Research Centre (ARC) and Central Intelligence Agencies are also exempted from obtaining Unique Identification Number.
RPA operators shall submit duly filled application through Digital Sky Platform along with requisite fees for issue of UAOP to DGCA at least 7 working days prior to actual commencement of operations. The UAOP shall be issued by DGCA within 7 working days, and it shall be valid for the period of 5 years. The UAOP is non transferrable. It can be renewed after the fresh security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
a) Nano RPA operating under 50 feet (15 m) AGL within airspace or enclosed premises which is uncontrolled.
b) Micro RPA operating under 200 feet (60 m) AGL within airspace or enclosed premises which is uncontrolled. However, the user shall inform local police office 24 hours prior to conduct of actual operations.
c) RPA owned and operated by agencies. However, the agency shall intimate local police office and concerned ATS Units prior to conduct of actual operations.
a) GNSS for horizontal and vertical position fixing
b) Autonomous Flight Termination System or Return Home (RH) option
c) Flashing anti-collision strobe lights
d) RFID and GSM SIM Card/ NPNT compliant for APP based real time tracking
e) Fire resistant identification plate inscribed with UIN
f) Flight controller with flight data logging capability
a) SSR transponder (Mode ‘C’ or ‘S’) or ADS-B OUT equipment
a) Barometric equipment with capability for remote sub-scale setting
b) Geo-fencing capability
c) Detect and Avoid capability
This policy has laid down various requirements which are essential for the operations of the RPAs. These necessary operating requirements are following:
This Civil Aviation Requirement, 2018 provides that a UIN or UAOP which is being granted by DGCA does not confer on the Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) any rights against owner or resident of any land or building or over which the operations are conducted, or prejudice in any way the rights and remedies which a person may have in respect of any injury to persons or damage to property caused directly or indirectly by the RPA[2].
The DGCA shall not absolve the operator or the remote pilot from compliance with any other regulatory requirement, which may exist under the State or local law.
Contributed by - Raghav Gaind
Source: http://dgca.nic.in
[1] http://dgca.nic.in/cars/D3X-X1.pdf
[2] http://dgca.nic.in/cars/D3X-X1.pdf