The New Skyways

As developed nations start using Autonomous Flying Vehicles to offer a multitude of services, Indian drone service providers face a multitude of problems. There are many regulatory challenges as use of large parts of India’s airspace is restricted. The government needs to act quickly so that people and businesses can enjoy the benefits that AFVs offer.

- Mark D. Martin

Look up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane?” No it’s ‘Lokeshan’ and he has just reached your ‘location’. And before you begin the chatter with ‘Lokeshan’ who wants cash only, let’s see if this would be something that we’d see soon in India. The biggest challenge around making autonomous flight vehicles (AFV), drones (both manned and unmanned short-distance HeliTaxi Services) in India starts with airspace access, suitable landing spots and clearance for low altitude air corridor and defining the right regulatory environment.

India’s airspace is one of the most stringently controlled, inaccessible and reserved air spaces in the world. With nearly 40 per cent of airspace, including that over cities being sealed off on account of VVIP areas, military installations, restricted access owing to flight path and in some cases zero access to even entering such an airspace from 0 to 1,000 feet banned, for a drone or AFV to even look at getting airborne makes it absolutely impossible.