The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is implementing their finalized guidelines for the commercial use of drones, or remotely operated aircraft, beginning on December 1. To further develop these regulations, a drone task force has been established under the leadership of Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha. The taskforce is responsible for providing draft recommendations for future drone regulations. However, current orders from the regulator rule out the use of drones for delivery services by e-commerce companies and online food platforms.
Defining Drones
The DGCA defines a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) as an unmanned aircraft controlled from a remote pilot station. The RPA, along with its associated remote pilot station(s), command and control links, and any other components constitute a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).
DGCA Guidelines
According to DGCA guidelines, remotely piloted aircraft are divided into five categories based on their weight: nano (less than or equal to 250 grams), micro (from 250 grams to 2kg), small (from 2kg to 25kg), medium (from 25kg to 150kg), and large (greater than 150kg).
All civilian drone operations will be limited to daylight hours and must not involve any human or animal payloads, or hazardous materials. Drones must not pose a danger to people or property, and insurance is mandatory to cover potential third-party damage.
The guidelines also stipulate that the operation of drones must be within the visual line of sight, typically around 450 meters. All drones, with the exception of nano drones and those owned by the National Technical Research Organisation and central agencies, must be registered and issued a Unique Identification Number.
Restrictions on Drone Operations
In the interest of safety and security, drones are banned from operating in certain locations. These include areas near airports, international borders, coastlines, state secretariat complexes, strategic locations, and military installations.
Registration of drones and permissions for their operation will be conducted digitally via the ‘digital sky platform’, which is connected to local law enforcement agencies. This measure ensures efficient record-keeping while also allowing for the immediate identification of unauthorized or potentially harmful drone activity.
