NEW DELHI, Oct 3:
In the face of growing concerns about air-borne threats to security, the government was actively considering to regularise flying of unregulated objects, like smaller UAVs, gliders and drones, Chief of Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said today.
Addressing a press conference here, coinciding with the 83rd Air Force day, the Air Chief said unregulated flying of objects is proliferating and this has reached to a worrisome level.
“We need to have regularisation for such rampant flying of objects. Ministry of Defence, Civil Aviation and the Home Ministry are in touch to prepare guidelines for flying of such objects,” Air Chief Marshal Raha said.
The Air Chief’s comments came at a time when flying of various kind of objects, like, UAVs’ toy mounted cameras, gliders have become rampant, raising a new concern among the security agencies.
There were intelligence reports that terrorists might use such flying objects to attack high value targets taking advantage of unregulated security environment.
In recent months, there have been many intelligence inputs showing that terror groups in South Asia could be trying to acquire capabilities to carry out aerial attacks. The move would primarily cover gliders, UAVs, outdoor balloons and other flying objects that could be used by terrorists.
The new guidelines, which will be issued by the Director General, Civil Aviation, will require everyone to register ones flying object, its origin and aim of flying with the district authorities, said the Air Chief.
The regulatory mechanism will be in place within a year’s time in the entire country, he said. (UNI)