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While there’s a consensus in the industry that government has done well on the policy front, the implementation remains a concern.
The rules governing the permission for flying a drone were overhauled in 2021, making nearly 80% of the country’s area a green zone, up from merely 0.1% earlier, Paras Aerospace’s Akula said. In green zones, no permission is required for operating drones with weight up to 500 kg.
But nearly one and a half year after these new drone rules were notified, only seven drone models have been given the type certificate, a document that deems a drone is fit to fly. Hundreds of drone companies have already been established but only seven have drones approved by the Indian aviation regulator.
While handing out the first type certificate nearly six months ago under new drone rules, the ministry had said it will hand out 100 such approvals in next three years.
According to a senior executive at a drone company, they have been to the ministry many times for getting the type certificate for drone, but due to understaffing or other reasons, it has become the infamous “tareekh pe tareekh” ordeal. Policy implementation seems like a challenge right now, he said on the condition of anonymity.
Sourcing of components related to motors, batteries, cells and electronics is also a challenge as India currently relies on imports for them, according to the industry experts.
The industry is already behind by a decade due to the earlier draconian rules, the executive quoted earlier said. But now that the policy has changed, the huge opportunity can be exploited only after plugging these visible gaps, the executive said.
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Image and article originally from www.bqprime.com. Read the original article here.