Ncaa Bans Operation Of Drones In Nigeria Without Permit

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, May 09, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has warned that it is illegal to operate Remotely Piloted Aircrafts (RPA) or Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAV) within Nigerian airspace for any purpose whatsoever without obtaining a permit from it and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

It said no government agency, organisation or individual has been exempted from this directive for the safety of the airspace and the general public.

Spokesman for NCAA, Sam Adurogboye in a statement Sunday said in recent times, RPA/UAV were being deployed for commercial and recreational purposes in the country without adequate security clearance.

He noted that with the preponderance of these operations, particularly in a non-segregated airspace, there had to be proactive safety guidelines.

The authority further said the development of the use of RPA nationwide had emerged with somewhat predictable safety concerns and security threats.

THEWILL recalls that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to a publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as far as certification and operation of civil use of RPA is concerned.

He noted that the NCAA had therefore put in place Regulations/Advisory Circular to guide the certification and operations of civil RPA in the Nigerian airspace.

This is contained in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs 2015 Part 8.8.1.33) and Implementing Standards (Nig.CARs 2015 Part IS.8.8.1.33).

“Therefore, no government agency, organisation or an individual will launch an RPA/UAV in the Nigerian airspace for any purpose whatsoever without obtaining requisite approvals/permit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Office of National Security Adviser (NSA).”