The Indian government is considering comprehensive Civil Aviation Requirements to regulate small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or “drones”), following recent incidents of their flying close to the airport, and Indian parliament. Guidelines could include registration, tracking, implementation, and penalties for offenders.
Drones are “being discussed internally and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has to work on this [further],” said to R.N. Choubey, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, speaking to AIN. He acknowledged that the ministry was facing “technical challenges like tracking…how does one track recreational drones? Tracking costs money and increases the weight of a drone. It needs to be monitored, and tracking devices will have to be put across the country,” he added.
Administrative issues are getting in the way, too, regarding which authority gives permission for drones to fly. “We are of the view that it should be the responsibility of the local police station to give permission,” said Choubey. However, this has raised issues of jurisdiction and airspace.
“Even the U.S. is struggling with similar issues. While we are looking at international best practice, DGCA and MOCA are working [with] the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is responsible for homeland security, to allow civilian use of drones without a security component. “We are struggling,” admitted Choubey. However, he said clearly: “This is a transition phase. If somebody does something dangerous, we have our standard operating procedures.”
16/02/16 Neelam Mathews/AINonline
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Drones are “being discussed internally and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has to work on this [further],” said to R.N. Choubey, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, speaking to AIN. He acknowledged that the ministry was facing “technical challenges like tracking…how does one track recreational drones? Tracking costs money and increases the weight of a drone. It needs to be monitored, and tracking devices will have to be put across the country,” he added.
Administrative issues are getting in the way, too, regarding which authority gives permission for drones to fly. “We are of the view that it should be the responsibility of the local police station to give permission,” said Choubey. However, this has raised issues of jurisdiction and airspace.
“Even the U.S. is struggling with similar issues. While we are looking at international best practice, DGCA and MOCA are working [with] the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is responsible for homeland security, to allow civilian use of drones without a security component. “We are struggling,” admitted Choubey. However, he said clearly: “This is a transition phase. If somebody does something dangerous, we have our standard operating procedures.”
16/02/16 Neelam Mathews/AINonline
