Drones R oy E zze
AFRICAN STATES GRAPPLE WITH UAV REGULATION Like almost everywhere else in the world, Africa is having to come to grips with the challenges of integrating drone operations with manned aviation.
Drones are also used in mapping coastlines, agricultural areas and oil fields.
T
HE challenge is to ensure the safe co-existence of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) generally referred to as drones. Individual African states are taking steps to develop temporary frameworks to regulate the operation of drones in their airspace. AWAITING REGULATION At a drones conference in Rwanda in early 2020, Mr. Tefera Mekonen, Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), proposed to conduct awareness and capacity building around drone operations to clearly distinguish between civil and military uses. He also pledged to work with ICAO and partners to develop a continental framework to harmonise policies across countries and regions, as well as enhance national collaborations, partnerships, networks and knowledge exchange to facilitate upscaling and the use of drone technology.
25
FlightCom Magazine
In a further drone meeting in Lagos, Nigeria, stakeholders sought to fasttrack drone regulation procedures, and thus hopefully to open a floodgate for the benefits of drones to operators and the broader economy. Though the volume of air traffic in Africa is remarkably low compared to most other regions, with Africa having less than 3% of global air passenger traffic and less than 2% of global air cargo traffic, the trend of unmanned aircraft in parts of Africa might suggest drone operations could grow much faster than manned aircraft traffic in Africa. STATES ARE OPTIMISTIC Several African states have come up with stop-gap strategies to regulate the operation of drones in their airspaces. Beyond reaping the benefits expected from the operation of drones, African States are compelled to regulate drones in order to ensure safety and security of drones coexisting with manned
aircraft. Other issues of respect for privacy are also of concern. Ghana, for instance, has laid out comprehensive guidelines for the regulation of drones in its airspace, including charges and fees for various categories of drones. The Ghana regulator (GCAA) has aligned itself with widely accepted standards by specifying that drones may not be operated above 400 ft agl and out of visual line of sight. GCAA also has guidelines for the regulation of drone pilots and pilot instructor licensing, as well as the change of ownership of RPAS, and regulation of RPAS associations and clubs in Ghana. In Sierra Leone, the challenge of regulation of drones is still receiving attention from the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, which is collaborating with other partners like the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) and others. The Sierra Leone government partnered with UNICEF, late in 2019, to launch a drone corridor to facilitate medical supplies. The government is also working on a drone ecosystem to enhance the development of research and skills development locally. In Bamako, Mali, drones are in use for mapping as part of efforts in environmental protection. In Malawi, Ghana and Rwanda, drones are used to overcome the challenges of distance and poor land transport infrastructure, while delivering medical supplies. Dr Moinina David Sengeh, Chief Innovation Officer of UNICEF, said “drone blood deliveries in Ghana and Rwanda are saving lives.” Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said drones pose a risk and should be regulated without compromising the benefits for leisure and other economic
