Agency partners NSA to hold stakeholders’ meeting on usage of drones

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will on Nov. 21, 2016, hold a stakeholders’ meeting to articulate the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)/ Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in the Nigerian Airspace.

The NCAA, in a statement by its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Sam Adurogboye, on Thursday in Lagos, said the meeting was being organised in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

It said the meeting, scheduled to hold in Abuja, was a mandatory exercise for all stakeholders in the interest of safer skies.

The regulatory body noted that there had been lots of interest shown for the civil use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)/Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) otherwise known as drones in the country.

According to the statement, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as far as its certification and operations are concerned.

“The NCAA has put in place the Regulations/Advisory Circular for certification and operation for the use of civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)/ Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in the Nigerian Airspace, through Nig CARs (Part 8.8.1.33) and implementing Standards.

“Owing to the importance attached to this meeting, participants will be drawn from the Military, Federal Ministry of Aviation and its Parastatals/Agencies, Flying Clubs, Tour Operators, Media Practitioners (Aviation Press Corps), neighbouring African countries.

“Others are the film making industry (Nollywood), National Assembly (Aviation Committees) and Sports Organisations,” it said.

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It said stakeholders meeting had become very necessary since the civil operation of RPA/UAV would require approval/permit from the NCAA and ONSA.