DRONE ECOSYSTEM POLICY ROADMAP

The focus is on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) & Autonomous Operations and above the current limit of 400 feet. Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flights to be allowed only in a designated Drone Corridor, a segregated airspace to ensure that commercial UAS operations do not interfere with the nonsegregated airspace meant for manned aircraft.

Droneports to be designated to facilitate take-off and landing of the UAS. A UAS Traffic Management to be responsible for managing UAS-induced traffic in the Drone Corridor. The regime of No Permission, No Take-off (NPNT) to continue to provide security from unauthorised flights.

Improved and advanced pilot training methods to be introduced to meet designated professional requirements. Use of algorithms for piloting may be permitted, but only if adequate safety, security and privacy principles are demonstrated in the design of operations. Considering the increased exposure due to commercial operations, UAS operators to have a professional liability insurance to cover the cost of legal fees and damages awarded against such operators.

New principles of air worthiness could be introduced to include safety by design, security by design and privacy by design.

Operation should be allowed over civilian airspace after manufacturers meet certain standards, and operators prove safety of all stakeholders in designated test zones. For privacy, manufacturers required to adhere to a privacy by design stan

dard, eliminating risks of future privacy harms by operators.

100 per cent FDI in UAS and Remotely-piloted Aerial Systembased commercial civil aviation services to boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Digital Sky Service Providers to provide enabled services to the UAS Operators, Digital Sky Platform, relevant law enforcement authorities and any other stakeholders. — By SP’s Correspondent