/viestories/media/media_files/2025/02/04/XdKDhheJqsNA1lVFHyIv.jpg)
Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, told Parliament that 10,208 type-certified commercial drones were registered on the Digital Sky platform as of September 2024.
He said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued 96 type certificates for different drone models based on their use—65 for agriculture and 31 for logistics and surveillance.
DigitalSky is the DGCA’s online platform for managing drones in India.
Mohol also mentioned that about 86% of Indian airspace is classified as "green" and open for drone operations. Airspace is divided into three zones-
Green- (no permission needed for drones up to 500 kg)
Yellow -(requires air traffic control approval)
Red -(no-drone zones)
There are 9,969 "airspace red zones" and 147 "airport red zones," while "airport yellow zones" (covering areas 5 km to 12 km from airports) total 294.
In response to another question, Mohol said the DGCA is working on regulations for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and electric VTOL (eVTOL) aircraft.
Read also- WeWork India Files DRHP with SEBI to Raise Funding via IPO
eVTOLs, powered by batteries, can hover and fly like helicopters and are designed to carry 2-6 passengers, including a pilot. They are commonly known as air taxis.
The upcoming rules will cover airworthiness certification, pilot training, and operational procedures for advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions.
“Based on the regulatory framework, vertiports, air routes and other necessary infrastructure essential for safe and efficient AAM operations would be established. The operations would be managed strategically and tactically by optimising the air traffic flow in the airspace with the use of Unmanned Aircraft Traffic Management (UTM) systems along with existing Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems for de-conflicting the movements of multiple small aircraft and integrating autonomous drones in the same airspace,” Mohol added.
He also said that discussions are ongoing with experts in india and abroad to develop guidelines for advanced air mobility. The DGCA is working with agencies like the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the international civil aviation organization (ICAO) and the US federal aviation administration (FAA) on this.
Want to go deeper into the world of startups and entrepreneurship? Check out these categories on VIESTORIES:
Startup Funding and Stories: Discover Funding Trends and Stories Shaping Indian Startups.
Startup Funding News: Your Gateway to Every Funding Update.
Latest Startup News: Stay updated with the latest startup news and trends. Your go-to source for startup ecosystem updates.
Startup Stories: Discover inspiring tales of startups overcoming challenges and achieving success.