Numerous press reports say India will soon conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) test flights of drone systems for the creation of last mile air delivery connectivity in the country.
In May 2019 the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an invitation for expression of interest for industrial partners to conduct experimental BVLOS operations of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in india, leading to the submission of a Proof of Concept (POC) for safe BVLOS operations.
“The BVLOS experiments will be conducted in various airspaces across the country which have been identified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI),” reports the Economic Times of India. “These experiments will be conducted by selected consortium using different types of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System models. Consequently, the results of the long-range test flights will be assessed by the BVLOS Experiment Assessment and Monitoring committee….The companies involved in the test flights, according to industry insiders include Throttle Aerospace Systems and Dunzo Air. If successful, the flights will allow low altitude flights to deliver life-saving medicines, food deliveries as well as allowing other commercial uses, including photography, surveying, and agriculture.
“An official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation states the flights will not go beyond 400 ft high and are likely to begin… at the end of January. The test flights include experts from various sectors, service providers, and other companies planning to use drones for deliveries.”
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