DRONES: WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MANUFACTURING DRONES IN INDIA.

The present Article aims to provide a brief step-by-step procedural requirements that

one has to comply with, in order to establish a Drone Manufacturing Unit in India.

India is one of the leading economies in the world which has extensively invested in

usage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) popularly known as “Drone”. The

fascination of India’s youth with this technology has only grown manifold. With the

advent of Drone technology spanning from civilian to military usage, the focus of

government has turned to make drone manufacturing a large scale industry in India.

The first question that pops in the mind of a person is then what are the governing

regulations that one should be aware of before entering into this industry. What does

an Indian Innovator need to know before entering into this nascent yet flourishing

business?

The Director General of Civil Aviation is the apex body which governs the entire

process from registration to manufacturing to selling of the Drones in India. The

Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS),

also known as drones, in India can be categorised in following steps:

A. Registration: All drones operating in India must be registered with the

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and obtain a Unique

Identification Number (UIN) and a Remote Pilot License (RPL). The

procedure for registration of drones in India is as follows:

i. Creation of Account on the Digital Sky platform: The first step in the

registration process is to create an account on the Digital Sky platform

(https://digitalsky.dgca.gov.in/).

ii. Application for Unique Identification Number : Once an account has been

created on the Digital Sky platform, one can apply for a Unique Identification

Number (UIN) for drone. One will need to provide details such as the make

and model of the drone, its weight, and its purpose of use.

iii. Obtain a Remote Pilot License (RPL): If you are the remote pilot operating

the drone, you will need to obtain a Remote Pilot License (RPL) from the

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). To obtain an RPL, you will

need to undergo training and pass an exam.

iv. Submission of Application for registration:- Submit the application for

registration: After obtaining the UIN and RPL, you can submit the application

for registration of your drone on the Digital Sky platform. You will need to

provide details such as your personal information, the make and model of the

drone, and its intended use.

v. Receipt of Confirmation:- Receive the confirmation: After submitting the

application, you will receive a confirmation from the DGCA if your

application is approved. Once your drone is registered, you will receive a

unique identification number which must be displayed on the drone.

B. Categorization: The DGCA has categorized drones into five categories based

on their weight and operational capabilities - nano, micro, small, medium, and

large. Each category has its own set of operating conditions and restrictions.

It is important to note that the categorization process may vary depending on

the type of drone and its intended use. It is recommended to review the Civil

Aviation Requirements (CAR) for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)

before beginning the categorization process. Based on the weight,

capabilities, and intended use of the drone, the appropriate category is

selected.

The categories are as follows:

i. Nano: Drones weighing less than or equal to 250 grams.

ii. Micro: Drones weighing more than 250 grams but less than or equal to 2

kg.

iii.Small: Drones weighing more than 2 kg but less than or equal to 25 kg.

iv.Medium: Drones weighing more than 25 kg but less than or equal to 150

kg.

v. Large: Drones weighing more than 150 kg.

Once the appropriate category is selected, the regulations and requirements

set forth by the DGCA for that category must be followed. These regulations

include obtaining necessary approvals, registering the drone, obtaining a

remote pilot license, and adhering to safety standards.

C. Flying Conditions: Drones are also prohibited from being flown over certain

types of gatherings such as political rallies and sporting events. Flying

conditions for drones in India are regulated by the Directorate General of Civil

Aviation (DGCA) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. It is important to note

that the flying conditions may vary depending on the category of drone and

its intended use. It is recommended to review the regulations and

requirements set forth by the DGCA before flying a drone in India. The

following are the flying conditions for drones in India:

i. No-fly zones: Drones are not allowed to fly in certain areas such as airports,

military installations, and other sensitive locations.

ii. Restricted areas: Drones may be allowed to fly in restricted areas such as

border areas, but prior permission must be obtained from the concerned

authorities.

iii. Altitude restrictions: The maximum altitude for drones is 400 feet above

ground level, except with prior permission from the DGCA.

iv. Visual line of sight: The drone must always be flown within the visual line

of sight of the remote pilot.

v. Time restrictions: Drones may only be flown during daylight hours and must

be grounded during night time, except with prior permission from the DGCA.

vi. Equipment requirements: Drones must be equipped with anti-collision

lights, real-time tracking devices, and geofencing capabilities.

vii. Permits and approvals: Prior permits and approvals must be obtained from

the DGCA and other concerned authorities for specific uses such as aerial

surveys, aerial photography, or scientific research.

D. Safety Features: Drones must be equipped with certain safety features such

as anti-collision lights, real-time tracking devices, and geofencing

capabilities. Drones in India are required to have safety features to ensure

safe and responsible operation. The following are some of the safety features

required by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):

i.Anti-Collision Lights: Drones must be equipped with anti-collision lights

that are visible from at least 500 meters away during night operations. These

lights help to prevent collisions with other aircraft and ensure visibility to

the remote pilot.

ii.Real-Time Tracking Devices: Drones must be equipped with real-time

tracking devices that can provide information about the drone's location and

altitude to the remote pilot and authorities. This helps to prevent drone

flyaway and can assist in locating the drone in case of an emergency.

iii.Geo-Fencing: Drones must be equipped with geofencing capabilities that

prevent them from flying in restricted areas or no-fly zones. This helps to

prevent incidents and ensure safe and responsible drone operation.

iv.Return-to-Home (RTH) Functionality: Drones must be equipped with a

RTH functionality that enables the drone to automatically return to its takeoff

point in case of loss of signal or low battery. This helps to prevent flyaways

and ensures safe and responsible drone operation.

v.Safety Features for Payloads: Drones carrying payloads such as cameras

or other equipment must have safety features such as shock absorbers and

restraints to ensure that the payloads do not become detached during flight

and cause harm to people or property on the ground.

E. Operations Manual: Operators of drones must have an operations manual

that outlines the operating procedures, safety protocols, and emergency

procedures. An operation manual for drones is an essential document that

outlines the procedures, protocols, and safety guidelines for the operation of

a drone. It is important to note that the operation manual must be customized

to the specific drone being operated and the intended use. The manual must

be reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that it is up-to-date with current

regulations and best practices. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation

(DGCA) in India requires drone operators to have an operation manual, which

must include, Introduction, Aircraft Specifications, Operating Procedures

Flight Restrictions Maintenance and Repairs Safety Guidelines, Data

Management etc.

F. Permissions: Operators of drones must obtain necessary permissions from

local authorities before flying their drones in certain areas. In India, the

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is responsible for granting

permissions for drone operations. The following are the types of permissions

required for drone operations in India:

i. Remote Pilot License (RPL): The remote pilot of a drone must hold

a valid RPL issued by the DGCA.

ii. Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP): Any entity operating

drones for any purpose in India, including recreational purposes, must

obtain a UAOP from the DGCA.

iii. Airspace Clearance: Prior airspace clearance must be obtained from

the Air Traffic Control (ATC) authority before operating drones in

controlled airspace.

iv. Special Permissions: Special permissions may be required for specific

operations, such as aerial photography, aerial surveys, or scientific

research.

The application process for obtaining permissions for drone operations

typically involves filling out an online application form and submitting

supporting documents such as a copy of the RPL, drone specifications,

insurance coverage, and flight plan details. The DGCA may also conduct

inspections of the drone and its operation procedures before granting

permissions.

G. Training: The remote pilots operating the drones must undergo training and

obtain a Remote Pilot License (RPL) from the DGCA. The Directorate

General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated that all remote pilots of

drones must hold a Remote Pilot License (RPL) issued by the DGCA.

Thus, the entire mechanism would take at least 2-3 months to complete,

though there is no time frame prescribed for the same. The industry of Drone

is an evolving yet highly regulated sector in India.