Stakeholders discuss norms for civilian use of drones

Officials of Civil Aviation, Defence and Home Ministries along with those from other agencies today discussed the proposed guidelines for civilian use of drones and other unmanned flying vehicles.
The meeting comes little over a month after aviation regulator DGCA came out with draft guidelines in this regard as technological advancements have increased the possibility of using such vehicles for civilian use.
Sources said the meeting discussed comments received from stakeholders on the draft guidelines. Since there have been numerous comments, all of them could not be deliberated upon today and another meeting would be convened in the coming weeks, they added.

Officials from Civil Aviation, Defence and Home Ministries as well as those from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other agencies attended the meeting.
Once the deliberations are completed and issues sorted out among the ministries concerned, DGCA would prepare the final guidelines.
In April, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) came out with draft guidelines for civil use of unmanned flying vehicles.

Stakeholders were given time till May 21 to submit their comments on the draft.
Among others, DGCA has proposed that drone users would have to secure permit and a unique identification number for their operations.

"Civilian use of UAS (unmanned aircraft system) includes damage assessment of property and life in areas affected with natural calamities, surveys; critical infrastructure monitoring, among others... UA (unmanned aircraft) operations present problems to the regulator in terms of ensuring safety of other users of airspace and persons on the ground," the DGCA had said in its draft guidelines.
Currently, the aircraft rules do not cover use of drones as well as their sale and purchase.
In October 2014, DGCA had restricted the use of drones and unmanned aircraft system by civilians.
Last month, the government said there is no proposal at present with DGCA for allowing commercial use of drones in the country.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma had informed the Lok Sabha that civil use of drones by non-government agencies, organisations or individuals is restricted.
To a query on whether the government proposes to allow commercial use of drones in any part of the country on pilot basis, Sharma in a written reply on May 5 had said, "currently, there is no such proposal with DGCA".