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.
