RPAS RULES
&
REGULATIONS
By- Rajesh Nehra
CONTENTS
• International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO).
• Aircraft Act 1934.
• Aircraft Rules 1937.
• Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).
• The Drone Rules 2021.
International Civil
Aviation Organization
(ICAO)
⮚ ICAO: To achieve uniformity and
agreement between nations in Technical,
Economics, Legal, Operational matters
with respect to civil aviation, a treaty, for
establishment of an international
organization, on the pattern UN was
signed on 7th December,1944 at the
Chicago Convention.
⮚ The body was named as International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with
headquarters in Montreal, Canada.
International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO)
ICAO is composed of a General Assembly and a Council
composed of 36 contracting states. It works in co-
operation with other close members of the UN family:
• World Meteorological Organizations
• The International Telecommunication Union
• The Universal l Postal Union
• World Health Organization
• International Maritime Organization
ICAO Council
Members
⮚ The Council of ICAO is
elected by the Assembly
every 3 years and
consists of 36 members
elected by ICAO.
⮚ The present Council
was elected in October
2019. The structure of
the present Council is
as follows :
RPAS WITHIN
THE ICAO
FRAMEWORK
ICAO has devised an international
regulatory framework through,
⮚ Standards and Recommended
Practices (SARPs), with supporting.
⮚ Procedures for Air Navigation
Services (PANS) , to underpin
routine operation of Remotely
Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (DRONE)
throughout the world in a safe,
harmonized and seamless manner
comparable to that of manned
operations.
RPAS WITHIN
THE ICAO
FRAMEWORK
The framework highlights several key points such as:
⮚ Safe integration of RPAS into non-segregated
airspace without causing risks to manned
⮚
aircraft.
Licensing and medical qualification of remote
⮚
pilots.
⮚
Technologies for detect and avoid systems.
Frequency spectrum (including its protection
from
⮚
unintentional or unlawful interference)
Separation standards from other aircraft
Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (DRONE)
It is anticipated that information and data pertaining to
RPAS will evolve rapidly as States and the aerospace
industry advance their work and bring their input to
ICAO.
ICAO Focus
for RPAS
International Instrument Flying
Operations (IFR ops)
Global Interoperability
Priority is to initiate international
operations
⮚ Certificate of airworthiness
⮚ RPAS operator certificate
⮚ Remote Pilot Certificate
National Authority Focus : Domestic
operations, which may differ
significantly from international
Operations.
Formation of
RPASP
In order to meet ICAO's identified goals, RPASP, or Remote
Pilot Aircraft System Panel, was approved by Air Navigation
Commission in 2014, to collaborate with other ICAO expert
groups, and become a single focal point for all RPAS-related ICAO
activities.
⮚
RPASP is composed of 8 working groups with experts from:
⮚
Air traffic management;
⮚
Airworthiness;
Detect and avoid (DAA) or surveillance systems including
airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS), ground
⮚
proximity warning systems or other safety nets;
⮚
Human performance;
⮚
Personnel licensing; RPAS operations;
⮚
Safety management systems; and
Telecommunications for C2 Link and air traffic control.
INTERDEPENDENCIES
Other panels of the ANC are also involved in RPAS topics such as
"accident investigation, communications, flight recorders,
frequency spectrum, surveillance and safety management.“
Coordination beyond Air Navigation Commission (ANC) :
Aviation Security Panel (AVESC) - The Council on 15th June
⮚
2015 recognized two different security related threats:
⮚
Unlawful usage of RPAS.
Security threat to the RPAS system itself.
Legal Committee :
The Legal Committee is conducting a study on liability issues
relevant to unmanned aircraft.
Committee on Aviation Environment Protection (CAEP) : Security Surveillance
The CAEP Committee is reviewing status of RPA noise
certification.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) :
A Common Framework with Principles of Global Harmonization
The Aircraft Act, 1934
⮚ An Act to regulate the civil aviation industry and make better provision for the control of the
manufacturing, possession, use, operation, sale, import and export of aircraft.
⮚ The Director General, or any officer of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
• Inspect the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).
authorised by him, may
• RPAS manufacturing.
• Storage.
• Maintenance facility.
• RPAS traffic management facility or
• Any other related facility for the purpose of granting an authorisation, a certificate
under the provisions of Aircraft Act,1934.
The Aircraft
Rules,1937
⮚ Aircraft Rules, 1937 extend to the whole of India
and apply also
1. to, and to persons on, aircraft registered
in India
wherever they may be; or
2. and to persons on an aircraft operated
by an operator who has his principal
place of business or permanent
residence in India; or
3. wherever they may be all aircraft for the
time being in or over India
⮚ These rules shall apply to:
a) All persons owning or possessing, or engaged in
leasing, transferring or maintaining an unmanned
aircraft system in India;
b) All unmanned aircraft systems that are registered in
India; and
c) All unmanned aircraft systems that are being
⮚ The provisions contained in the Aircraft Rules, 1937 shall not
apply to unmanned aircraft systems except in case of an
unmanned aircraft system with maximum all-up-weight of
more than 500 kilograms.
⮚ These rules shall not apply to an unmanned aircraft system
belonging to, or used by, the naval, military on air forces of
The Drone the Union of India.
Rules, 2021
Drone Rules 2021-
An Overview
Type
Certification
by QCI Drone No
approved Registration Permission
Certification I is required
entities N for flying in
S green zone
U
R Permission
A is required
Drone Pilot N for flying in
Training by C yellow and
DGCA Drone red zone
E
Approved Registration
Drone
Training
Schools
Categorization of RPAS - India
• HYBRID
• AEROPLANE
• ROTORCRAFT
RPAS
CLASSIFICATION
BY SIZE
UAV CLASSIFICATION BY
RANGE & ALTITUDE
UAV
CLASSIFICATION HUMMINGBIRD SKYSTAR – PREDATOR - GLOBAL HAWK
BY RANGE & - VTOL HYBRID VTOL MALE - HALE
ALTITUDE