The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority is introducing a mandatory requirement to register all unmanned aerial vehicles in the emirate with a ban on the sale of drones without a license.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) accepts a mandatory requirement for all unmanned aerial vehicle operators to obtain a license to operate them.
Under the new rules, effective May 1, UAE retailers will not sell drones to customers who have not completed the DCAA registration process to obtain a license.
“People will be able to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles at any point of sale in Dubai, but they will not be allowed to take them out of the store if they do not have a license,” said Michael Rudolph, head of airspace safety, flight safety and the environment in DCAA.
He added that consumers will need to undergo a compulsory training program.
The UAE Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) currently also requires unmanned aerial vehicle operators to register drones.
There are currently around 1,000 registered unmanned vehicle operators in Dubai, of which 60 are commercial operators.
Rudolph said that since the beginning of 2017, the authorities began to implement the sky commander system developed by their own forces in all registered drones, which allows tracking real-time UAV activity. This measure is one of many that has been put in place to stop the penetration of aircraft into the restricted areas of airspace. Last year, a similar incident at Dubai International Airport led to a temporary cessation of work, schedule disruptions and huge economic losses.
“The Sky commander helps us track the trajectory, altitude and speed of the UAV. In case of any violations, we and the drone operator will immediately receive warnings, after which we can ask the operator to make corrections to his route or to stop the flight, ”Rudolph explained.
He also confirmed that DCAA, GCAA and other emirates have worked to implement a common standard for drones. In March, GCAA CEO Saif Mohammed Al Suwaydi also talked about a common set of rules and standards, saying that the UAE would stop importing unmanned aerial vehicles that did not meet established requirements.
