NCAA bars unauthorised drones from Nigerian airspace
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is worried about the use of drones in the country and has taken cognisance of the growing requests for the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), leading to its proliferation in Nigeria.
In a statement Sunday, the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Sam Adurogboye said in recent times, that RPA/UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) were being deployed for commercial and recreational purposes in the country without adequate security clearance.
“Therefore with the preponderance of these operations particularly in a non – segregated airspace, there has to be proactive safety guidelines.
“The development of the use of RPA nationwide has emerged with somewhat predictable safety concerns and security threats. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as far as certification and operation of civil use of RPA is concerned.
“NCAA has therefore put in place Regulations/Advisory Circular to guide the certification and operations of civil RPA in the Nigerian airspace.
“This is contained in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs 2015 Part 8.8.1.33) and Implementing Standards (Nig.CARs 2015 Part IS.8.8.1.33)” the statement said.
According to Adurogboye, no government agency, organisation or an individual will launch an RPA/UAV in the Nigerian airspace for any purpose whatsoever without obtaining requisite approvals/permit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Office of National Security Adviser (NSA).
