Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified a traffic management policy framework for drones. This could be regarded as the first step towards allowing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations.
Context
Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has notified a traffic management policy framework for drones. This could be regarded as the first step towards allowing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations.
Key-Points
- Traffic Control Framework: The rules envisage private, third-party service providers for ensuring safe operations
- Under this framework, Uncontrolled Traffic Management Service Providers (UTMSP) will expand automated, algorithm-based software services instead of voice communication as in traditional Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems.
- Scope of Regulation: All drones (except nano drones operating in the green zone) will be required to share their real-time location via the network to the Center.
- Law enforcement and security agencies will also have access to some information in the UTM ecosystem on a need-to-know basis.
- UTMSP Responsibility: Primarily they will be responsible for separating and disconnecting wireless aircraft from other drones and human aircraft in airspace less than 1,000 feet in the country.
- UTMSP will be assisted by Additional Service Providers (SSPs), who will store data about location, weather, manned airports and provide services such as insurance, data analysis, and drone ship management.
- Authorization Authority: DigitalSky Forum will continue to be a link for government stakeholders to issue permits and licenses to drone operators.
- DigitalSky Forum provides end-to-end governance of drone-related activities in India.
- Financial Provisions: The policy also allows UTMSPs to charge a service fee to users, a small portion of which will be shared with the Airports Authority of India.
- Significance of the Rules: India has started taking steps towards enabling advanced use cases like delivery of goods using unmanned aircraft and is also looking at human transportation using unmanned aircraft.
