The Ministry of Civil Aviation recently announced a new traffic management policy framework for drones, the first step towards allowing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. This move marks a significant progression in the regulation and management of drone activity in India.
Understanding the Traffic Management Framework
In this new system, the rules envisage the involvement of private, third-party service providers to ensure safe operations. These entities, known as Unmanned Traffic Management Service Providers (UTMSP), will rely on automated, algorithm-driven software services to manage drone traffic. This is a marked departure from traditional Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems, which primarily rely on voice communication.
The Scope of Regulation
The mandate of these regulations extends to all drones, barring nano drones operating in green zones. Drones will be required to share their real-time location with the Centre through a centralised network. In addition, law enforcement and security agencies will also have access to select information within the Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) ecosystem, ensuring that drone usage can be monitored and regulated for national security purposes.
Responsibility of the UTMSP
The primary responsibility of the UTMSPs will be to separate and segregate drones from other drones and manned aircraft below 1,000 feet. Supplementing the efforts of the UTMSPs will be Supplementary Service Providers (SSPs). The SSPs will look after aspects such as weather conditions, terrain data, the location of manned aircraft, and additional services including insurance provision, data analytics, and drone fleet management.
About the Approval Authority
Under the new framework, the DigitalSky platform will continue to function as the interface for obtaining government approvals and permissions for drone operators. The platform has served as an end-to-end governance tool for managing drone-related activities in India, ensuring a streamlined process and efficient management.
Financial Provisions of the Policy
In an attempt to ensure financial viability, the policy allows UTMSPs to charge a service fee from users. A small portion of this fee will also be shared with the Airports Authority of India, providing a source of revenue for the regulatory authority.
Significance of the Rules
The introduction of these rules signifies that India is paving the way for advanced use cases of drones, such as the delivery of goods. The country is also exploring human transportation via unmanned aircraft, indicating that the scope and potential for drone usage are expanding with technological advancements. In essence, these rules signify a crucial step forward in making BVLOS drone operations a reality, marking an important milestone in the evolution of drone regulations in India.
Source: Indian Express
