Drone registration to get easier

The government has decided to amend the Drone Registration and Aviation Policy-2020 to register more drones which enjoy potential commercial use in the country, an official of the civil aviation authority, said.

A recent inter-ministerial meeting made a decision to amend the two-year-old policy incorporating changes in weight — from five kilograms to one kilogram — and controllability range within 100 metres instead of current 100 feet in height, the official said.

As a result more drone users will come under the government registration policy.

The inter-ministerial meeting was presided over by Civil Aviation Secretary Mohammed Mukamal Hosain.

Civil aviation secretary told the Business Insider Bangladesh that most of the amendments will be done considering various security grounds.

Nowadays more people are interested in using drones for commercial purposes which will allow the government to earn more revenue from drone registration and operation, he added.

Hosain said fees will be higher for using a drone for commercial purposes, such as shooting a drama or a movie scene.  

“Making a drama will be expensive by three to four lakh taka if we use a drone,” a director of a TV drama told Business Insider Bangladesh, requesting anonymity.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh will prepare a drone app from an open source map to monitor the movement of a drone. Also this app will allow CAAB to designate areas for a drone to get airborne.

Two years ago, the cabinet had approved the ‘Drone Registration and Aviation Policy 2020’ with a provision of flying drones for state, military and recreational purposes without requiring permission.

Drone guidelines have divided use of drones into four categories, according to the secretary.

‘Class A’ drones are for recreational use and must weigh below five kilograms. ‘Class B’ drones are for non-commercial use, such as surveying large areas for personal studies and research. ‘Class C’ drones are allowed for commercial use and may weigh above five kilograms. Drones used by the state or the military could be classified as ‘Class D’ and would require no permission.

Airspace restrictions will apply for the use of drones such as restrictions around any nuclear facilities or military-bases.

Drones could not be used over major roadways and recreational sites.

Independent filmmaker Shamol Shishir told the Business Insider Bangladesh also said that the cost of production of drama and movies will go up due to the use of drones.

“We have to rent a drone at an expense of Tk 10,000  to Tk 1 lakh for one go,” he said .

Star Tech and Engineering Limited Director Jahed Ali Bhuiyan told the Business Insider Bangladeshi that they are importing the aerial devices through proper channels and selling them in a legitimate way.

Sales of drones fell drastically due to Covid -19 pandemic in the last two years, he added.

He, however, hoped that more drones will be registered under the new policy ‘which is good for the business.’

“The content creators who upload videos to YouTube and Facebook are our prime customers,” he said. 

Asked about the prices, Jahed said content creators usually purchase Chinese DJI brand drones at Tk 50,000 to Tk 60,000 while survey drones are priced around Tk 20 lakh.