The Bombay Flying Club (BFC), located in Juhu Aerodrome, has become the first DGCA-approved drone training school of the country.
In an order dated July 20, the DGCA approved the club’s application “for conducting remote pilot training for remotely piloted aircraft systems”. The Club had about two months back sought the regulator’s approval for conducting pilot training using remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems.
The validity of the exemption is for a period of one year from the date of issue of this letter or until the operationalisation of Digital Sky Platform, whichever is earlier, the DGCA letter notes.
It said that BFC will have to fulfill certain conditions regarding aerial photography, safety, insurance and take clearances from local administration, the Defence Ministry, the Home Ministry, the Indian Air Force and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The ministry has started from June 8 the registration process for non-compliant drones which were not registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and have not been granted drone acknowledgement numbers (DANs).
It gave a similar one-time opportunity for voluntary disclosure of such drones between January 14 and January 31. A total of 19,553 non-compliant drones were registered during this period.
On June 5, the ministry had issued draft rules for manufacturing and use of drones in the country wherein it has proposed that an authorised drone manufacturer or importer can sell its devices only to an individual or entity approved by the DGCA.
It will issue the final rules once it deliberates on comments received from the stakeholders on draft rules.
