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- Anukriti Srivastava
Want To Fly A Drone In India? Here Are 10 Things You Need To Know
Going down memory lane, remember those days we used to fly those robotic planes in our backyard? How about taking those hobbies to the next level by getting a drone?
Drones are one of the most interesting innovations of the 21st century. Earlier, drones were used for security, but nowadays, they are employed for so many other purposes. Photographers, travellers, bloggers, and event organisers are all using this gadget to bring new creative dimensions to their work. Drones have gained popularity among hobbyists as well. So if you are interested in getting a drone for yourself, you need to know a few important things before investing in it.
1. Registration of drone-
Before using a drone for photography, videography, or fun, you must register your drone. There is a proper procedure for registration. Drones that are above 250 grams require registration on the digital sky platform. However, drones that are less than 250 grams don't need registration. You can register your drone on the digital sky platform.
2. Drone flying zones-
Flying zones mean areas that can legally be used to fly drones. Before taking your drone to the sky, you should know that there are zones marked as Green, Yellow, and Red. You need to take permission from the higher authorities before flying your zones here. Certain sky spaces in India are marked as no flying zones. Here are some guidelines you need to know before flying your drone-
You cannot fly your drone within five miles of any airport.
You must fly your drone under 400 feet.
Drones are not allowed over government facilities or national parks.
It is better to have permission to fly your drone over other people before doing so.
3. Types of Drones-
Based on weight, drones are divided into five types-
a) Nano Drones: Less than or equal to 250 grams- The nano drones are the most sold drones in the market, mainly because they don’t require a registration for use. They are the favourite among the beginners & hobbyists. Moreover they are used in various military and non-military applications for confidential operations such as search and rescue, reconnaissance, surveillance, and situational awareness, among others.
b) Micro Drones: Greater than 250 grams and less than or equal to 2 kilograms- Micro drones carry payloads such as cameras and sensors for environmental monitoring, surveillance, or disaster management.
c) Small Drones: Greater than 2 kilograms and less than or equal to 25 kilograms-Small drones are used for traffic monitoring, weather monitoring, firefighting, and personal use.
d) Medium Drones: Greater than 25 kilograms and less than or equal to 150 kilograms. These drones are often used for medium-range surveillance.
e) Large Drones: Greater than 150 kilograms-These drones are used for operations such as military strikes.
4. Pricing
The next important thing to keep in mind is the price of drones. The drones that are available at an affordable or lower price are less functional and will not give the desired output. Those drones that offer premium quality images and various other features are mostly expensive.
The most expensive DJI drone is the Inspire 2. It has a starting price of $2,999 and can reach up to $10,499. However, the Mini series includes the cheapest of DJI's drones. It can range from 58k to 67k in India and they offer great video quality too.
5. Weather conditions
If you want to fly drones in your area, you need to watch the weather. If you reside in a windy area, you might face difficulty flying your drone because most drones can only handle wind up to 20 mph. A clear sky and no breeze are the ideal conditions to fly the drone.
6. License
To fly a drone above 250 grams, you must have a legal license. Also, certain eligibility criteria can get you the license after fulfilling.
Your age should not be less than eighteen years of age and not more than sixty-five years of age.
You must have passed class tenth or equivalent examination from a recognized Board.
You should have completed the training prescribed by the Director-General for the applicable class of remote pilot license from an authorized remote pilot training organization.
looking to get a licence? Here are a few authorized remote pilot training organizations-
2) DroneAcharya aerial innovation
4)Government Aviation training institute
7. Procedure for obtaining a remote pilot license
After fulfilling the eligibility criteria, completing prescribed training, and passing the proficiency test conducted by an authorized remote pilot training organization, the person shall be issued a remote pilot certificate within seven days. You must also submit certain documents to get consent from the licensing organization.
The license you get to fly drones is valid for five years, after which it expires. However, you can get it renewed.
8. Etiquettes-
Whether you are using drones for fun or photography, always respect the privacy of others. It's better to fly drones in open areas away from the public to avoid inconvenience to others.
9. The India Drone Rules 2021
India is moving towards digitization, and thus drones are employed for various purposes. However, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation has released a new set of drone laws and regulations for anyone operating an unmanned aircraft system in India. The first and foremost thing to know is that the drone operator is held accountable if any casualty happens to a person or property. Thus, it is crucial to license, have certifications, and abide by all the government laws while flying the drone. Here you can find all the rules issued by the government of India.
10. Drone pilot as a full-time career. How to find work?
Are you someone who loves flying drones and wants to build a career? Don't worry; it's possible to become a drone pilot. India is moving towards advancement, and many industries are employing drones. You can get jobs in entertainment, media, archaeology, real estate, mining, and construction industries. But all you need is a skillset and a portfolio to pitch to the clients. You might be wondering how to do that. So here is a step-by-step procedure to become a commercial drone pilot.
Get your drone license by passing the FAA examination
Buy a high-quality drone
Build a website or portfolio with your work experience
Start networking on social media
Or you can search for jobs in organisations hiring drone pilots.
Flying drones can be an exciting and a lifetime experience. Hopefully the above information will help you make the right decision before investing in drones, either for pleasure or for your professional work.
If you need a drone service for your project or wish to learn flying a drone without buying one, do write to us at hello@skyshot.in
Written by: Anukriti Srivastava
Content Writer @ Skyshot Media