Question : Drone Pilot Training

(a) whether the country''s aviation regulator is planning to allow drone pilot training also by the flight training organisations;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken to set up more drone pilot training schools by granting permissions to private firms, institutions under the State and the Union Governments in future;

(c) the policy worked out/implemented in this regard;

(d) whether aviation academies have been granted permission to carry out remote pilot training programmes using Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drones and if so, the basis on which permission has been granted;

(e) the details of the training programme; and

(f) the status of third-party testing and certification of drones?

The Minister of State (IC) in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Hardeep Singh Puri)

(a) Yes, Sir. As on 15 Sep 2020, 13 Flying Training Organisations (FTOs) have been approved by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to provide pilot training for Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) or drones.;

(b) & (c) Draft Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 7, Series D, Part-I and draft Flying Training Circular (FTC) - 2 of 2020 have been published on the DGCA website for seeking public comments. Once the above mentioned CAR and FTC are approved, it would encourage more entities to seek permission for providing drone training.;

(d) As on 15 Sep 2020, 13 FTOs have been permitted to provide drone pilot training. The basis of granting them such permission was, inter alia, their familiarisation with aviation safety aspects, regulatory mechanisms, experience in the field of training pilots on manned aircraft, the availability of equipment, trainers, requisite infrastructure etc.

(e) The remote pilot training requirements are laid down in CAR Section 3, Series X, Part - I. Based on this, the training programme is prepared by each FTO and the training is imparted after due approval from DGCA.;

(f) On 17 Sep 2020, DGCA has accorded in-principle approval for the "Certification scheme for RPAS" submitted by the Quality Council of India (QCI). This will enable third party testing and certification of drones. QCI would now empanel Certification Bodies based on the laid down criteria and commence the testing and certification process for drones.