Digital Sky Platform launched for registration of drones, pilots, and operators

Why in news?

  • In August 2018, India had announced the release of its Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) to enable safe flying of RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems) in India.
  • Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), also known as drones, are a technology platform with wide-ranging applications.

Digital Sky Platform:

  • The Digital Sky Platform is a first of its kind that implements ‘no permission, no take-off’ (NPNT) – a novel system of software-based self-enforcement to minimize deviations from the CAR.
  • The regulations has to come in effect from December 1, allowing the industry time to ready themselves for the launch.
  • For micro and above categories, operators and pilots are required to register on the Digital Sky Portal.
  • The platform has begun accepting registrations of users.
  • Payments for Unmanned Aerial Operator’s Permit (UAOP) and Unique Identification Numbers (UIN) will be accepted through the Bharat Kosh (bharatkosh.gov.in) portal.

Permissions to fly in different zones:

  • To get permissions, RPAS operators or remote pilots will have to file a flight plan.
  • Green zones – Flying in the green zones, requires only intimation of the time and location via the portal or the app.
  • Yellow zones – Permission will be required for flying in yellow zones.
  • Red zones – Flights will not be allowed to fly.

How to get permissions?

  • To get permissions to fly, RPAS operators or remote pilots will have to file a flight plan.
  • Flying in the ‘green zones’ will require only intimation of the time and location of the flights via the portal or the app.
  • Permissions will be required for flying in ‘yellow zones’ and flights will not be allowed in the ‘red zones’.
  • The location of these zones will be announced soon. Permission, if granted, will be available digitally on the portal.
  • If a drone does not have permission to fly, it will not be allowed to take-off under the policy of No Permission-No-Takeoff (NPNT).

Drone 2.0 Framework:

  • The Minister for Civil Aviation has constituted a task-force on the recommendation of Drone Policy 2.0 under the chairmanship of the Minister of State.
  • This task-force which is expected to release their final report by the end of this year.
  • Drone 2.0 framework for RPAS are expected to include regulatory architecture for autonomous flying, delivery via drones and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights.
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