AZE.US
Azerbaijan is preparing detailed regulations governing the registration, operation and flight of drones and other ultralight aircraft.
The new rules will determine where such aircraft may be flown, what permits their operators must obtain and which restrictions will apply in different areas.
The Cabinet of Ministers has been given three months to prepare the regulations. Proposals introducing penalties for violations must be submitted within four months.
The move follows recent amendments to Azerbaijan’s aviation law requiring drone operators to obtain registration certificates, operator certificates and, in certain cases, separate flight permits.
Flights in controlled airspace or near airports will require authorization from a special drone flight management and coordination center. Authorities will also be able to restrict operations because of weather conditions, security concerns or limitations imposed in a particular geographic zone.
Drone enthusiasts say the existing system is already difficult to navigate because Azerbaijan has few designated flying areas and obtaining permission can be complicated.
One amateur pilot living in Khirdalan said the nearest available model aircraft site is approximately 50 kilometers away, making it difficult to test racing drones regularly.
Industry representatives argue that a single set of requirements should not apply equally to every type of unmanned aircraft. They have proposed separate categories for hobby flights, landscape photography and commercial operations.
Under the current system, any drone equipped with a camera must be registered in advance, after which its operator must obtain the required government permits.
The forthcoming regulations are expected to formalize registration and operating procedures while defining permitted flight zones and restrictions for civilian drones.
AZE.US