Permission necessary to fly drones in Uttarakhand
Drones cannot be flown without the permission of the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the state. It is necessary to comply with DGCA permission to purchase and fly it. However, no permission is required to fly nano drones weighing less than 250 grams. At the same time, drones ranging from 250 grams to two kg weight can be flown without permission at a height of only 40 feet and in an indoor area. It will be compulsory to obtain permission to fly in excess of 40 feet in the outdoor area. Violation of the rules is classified as a punishable offense.
The use of drones is continuously increasing in the state. It is being used for photography and entertainment from wedding to recreation by amateurs. Due to many institutions of strategic importance in the state, they can also become a threat. Keeping in view the increasing use of drones throughout the country, a policy has been formulated for the operation of drones. It has categorized drones as well as standards for flying it. It prohibits flying drones in the periphery of defense institutions and areas related to security and law and order.
Amit Sinha, director of the Information Technology Development Agency, said that the procedure laid down by the Government of India should be followed to purchase and fly the drone. All the information in this regard is available on the DGCA website. The unique identification number and automatic aircraft operator permit (UAOP) of the drone must be obtained before the drone can operate. It is also necessary that the pilot operating the drone has received training from an institution authorized by the Government of India.
A list of drone prohibition zones is available on the Digital Sky platform. Prior to each flight of the drone, it is necessary to obtain permission through the digital platform. After obtaining permission from DGCA to fly a drone, it is necessary to inform the police station concerned 24 hours before flying the drone. Violation of rules can result in criminal suit under various sections of IPC.
