Our experts at Drone Destination will assist you in setting up the regulatory framework for your commercial drone operation. From getting an Equipment Type Approval (ETA) if you are a manufacturer to obtaining a Unique Identification Number (UIN) for your drone to getting a Unmanned Aerial Operating Permit to fly your drone(s) to getting your UAV NPNT compliant, we offer a holistic solution to making your drone operations legally compliant.

Some of our key services include:

1. OPERATIONS MANUAL SUPPORT:

An Operations Manual is the foundation of starting a successful commercial drone operation and establishes how you intend to plan, operate and review your operations. It’s a complex, comprehensive document and is the central hub around your missions, so it’s important to get it right.

If you are already using drones, we can review your existing document to ensure it is appropriate for your operation and more importantly, help you put systems in place to validate it. If you’re new to drone operations, we will provide guidance to successfully create your manual in compliance with the DGCA CAR 1.0 guidelines listed by DGCA for the operations of Remotely Piloted Aerial System (RPAS).

2. OBTAINING UIN/ UAOP:

As a first-time drone user or an organization looking to build a fleet of drones, it is mandatory that all RPAS except nano be registered and issued with Unique Identification Number (UIN), Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP). We will assist you with the relevant documentation, security clearance and prior permissions needed to file and obtain the UIN and UAOP.

We will ensure your UAV meets minimum mandatory equipment specifications such has GPS, Return-To-Home, Anti-collision lights, ID-Plate, flight data logging capability and NPNT compliant and file for any exemptions in special cases.

Our experts will help you address the minimum standards and training requirements of remote pilots of small above categories of RPAS as well as assist you in UAV flight support-activities such as filing of flight plan and obtaining Air Defense Clearance (ADC)/ Flight Information Centre (FIC), and obtaining NPNT clearance from the Digital Sky Platform.

3. SAFETY AUDIT:

Regardless of the size of your operation, companies can experience operational drift. The easiest way to realign this is to work with existing pilots to assess their workflow and procedures. As part of our safety audit, we will provide expert advice on:

• Accident & investigation policy
• Operator training program
• Logs & records
• Qualification requirements

This will enable us to identify high risk areas quickly and objectively audit the entire operation against the RPAS safe operations’ guidelines listed by the DGCA. We will provide recommendations to improve safety and systems to proactively identify issues.

DGCA REGULATORY GUIDELINES:

For drone-based services to continue to thrive and grow, it is necessary for regulations to be in place. In India, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) unveiled its first draft of the Drone Regulations 1.0 CAR in December 2018.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is very excited about the enormous potential of the UAV technology as it candidly states “it is the start of an exciting new chapter in India’s aviation history by allowing commercial use of drones, and many new and exciting applications are in the process of emerging that will propel India’s economy forward. Our progressive regulations will encourage a vast Made in India drone industry, leading to the establishment of a world-leading drone ecosystem. These regulations firmly place us among the global leaders. Our policy roadmap will certainly provide a strong impetus to all players in the drone ecosystem, with the hope that these initiatives will enable us to create a vibrant new industry.”

Key features of Drone Regulations 1.0 are:

Notification of Final Regulations for Civil Use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System

The Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) have been issued for civil use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) commonly known as drones. The regulation was developed after extensive consultations among various stakeholders.

As per the regulation, there are 5 categories of RPAS categorized by weight, namely :

• Nano (< 250 gms)
• Micro (250 gms – 2 kgs)
• Small (2 kgs – 25 kgs)
• Medium (25 kgs – 50 kgs)
• Large (50 kgs & above)

Operational/ Procedural Requirements:

All RPAS except nano and those owned by NTRO, ARC and Central Intelligence Agencies are to be registered and issued with Unique Identification Number (UIN). Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP) shall be required for RPA operators except for nano RPAS operating below 50 ft., micro RPAS operating below 200 ft., and those owned by NTRO, ARC and Central Intelligence Agencies. The mandatory equipment required for operation of RPAS except nano category are:

• GNSS (GPS)
• Return-To-Home (RTH)
• Anti-collision light
• ID-Plate
• Flight controller with flight data logging capability
• RF ID and SIM/ No-Permission No Take off (NPNT)

As of now, RPAS is to operate within visual line of sight (VLoS), during day time only, and upto maximum 400 ft. altitude. For flying in controlled airspace, filing of flight plan and obtaining Air Defence Clearance (ADC)/Flight Information Centre (FIC) number shall be necessary. Minimum manufacturing standards and training requirements of remote pilots of small and above categories of RPAS have been specified in the regulation.

No-Fly Drone Zones:

The regulation defines “No Drone Zones” around airports; near international border, Vijay Chowk in Delhi; State Secretariat complex in State capitals, strategic locations/vital and military installations; etc.

Operations through Digital Platform:

The RPAS operations will be based on NPNT (No Permission, No Take off). There will be different colour zones visible to the applicant while applying in the digital sky platform, viz, Red Zone: Yellow Zone, and Green Zone.

India’s security environment necessitates extra precautions. Instead of simply digitizing a paper-based process for registering and operating drones, India has formulated an all-digital process.

The Digital Sky Platform is the first-of-its-kind national unmanned traffic management (UTM) platform that implements “no permission, no takeoff” (NPNT).

Users will be required to do a one-time registration of their drones, pilots and owners. For every flight (exempted for the nano category), users will be required to ask for permission to fly on a mobile app and an automated process permits or denies the request instantly. To prevent unauthorized flights and to ensure public safety, any drone without a digital permit to fly will simply not be able to takeoff.

The UTM operates as a traffic regulator in the drone airspace and coordinates closely with the defense and civilian air traffic controllers (ATCs) to ensure that drones remain on the approved flight paths. These regulations will enable the safe, commercial usage of drones.

• Air space has been partitioned into:
• Red Zone (flying not permitted)
• Yellow Zone (controlled airspace i.e. permission required before flying)
• Green Zone (uncontrolled airspace i.e. automatic permission)

Enforcement Actions:
The enforcement actions are:

• Suspension/ cancellation of UIN/ UAOP in case of violation of regulatory provisions
• Actions as per relevant Sections of the Aircraft Act 1934, or Aircraft Rules, or any statutory provisions
• Penalties as per applicable IPCs (such as 287, 336, 337, 338, or any relevant section of IPC)