By the public notice issued on 7.10.2014, the DGCA (Director General of Civil Aviation) has prohibited the launch of any UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) by any non-governmental agency or any individual. Therefore, yes flying of drones without prior approval from the governmental authorities is illegal in India.
Further, Press Note No. 3 (2014) released by the Department of Industry Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry laid down a list of electronic aerospace and defense equipment which required an industrial license for manufacturing or production. This includes UAVs or commonly referred to as drones.
Reason behind making drones flight illegal in India
The use of drones was mainly for military or defense purposes. Since gradually the purpose of its use shifted and drones were used for commercial purposes, the government saw a security threat from these UAVs thereby banning their flight without approval.
General Rules for Flying a Drone in India
Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in India.
* A permit is required for commercial drone operations (except for those in the Nano category flown below 50 feet and those in the Micro category flown below 200 feet).
* Drone pilots must maintain a direct visual line of sight at all times while flying.
* Drones cannot be flown more than 400 feet vertically.
* Drones cannot be flown in areas specified as “No Fly Zones”, which include areas near airports, international borders, Vijay Chowk in Delhi, State Secretariat Complex in State Capitals, strategic locations, and military installations.
* Permission to fly in controlled airspace can be obtained by filing a flight plan and obtaining a unique Air Defense Clearance (ADC)/Flight Information Center (FIC) number.
Drone Categories in India
Registration is required for all but the Nano & Micro category.
* Micro: From 250 grams (.55 pounds) to 2kg (4.4 pounds)
* Small: From 2kg (4.4 pounds) to 25kg (55 pounds)
* Medium: From 25kg (55 pounds) to 150kg (330 pounds)
* Large: Greater than 150kg (33 pounds)
Required Drone Equipments in India
Also worth noting is that India has specific requirements regarding the types of features a drone must have to be flown in India (excluding those in the Nano category). These mandatory requirements include:
* Return-to-home (RTH)
* Anti-collision light
* ID plate
* A flight controller with flight data logging capability
Before every single flight, drone pilots are required to request permission to fly via a mobile app, which will automatically process the request and grant or reject it. India is calling their system “No Permission, No Takeoff” (NPNT). If a drone pilot tries to fly without receiving permission from the Digital Sky Platform, he or she will simply not be able to takeoff.
All drone operators will register their drone and request permission to fly for each flight through India’s Digital Sky Platform.
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