Muscat: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Sunday issued a decision 1412/2023 regulating drone activity, including making exceptions to the use of certain types.
Exceptions
As per the decision, a license is not needed to use indoors, children’s toys unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), whose weight does not exceed 250g and whose maximum height does not exceed 100 m above the ground, unless they carry sensors to collect data or photographic devices.
Regulations
The decision stipulates that the licensee must ensure there is no danger to people or their property, and should not transport materials or goods or perform delivery services without prior authorization.
The licensee shall be responsible for any damage caused to people or public or private properties and all other liabilities or expenses.
The licensee should notify the concerned parties immediately upon the occurrence of any drone accident.
Prohibitions
The licensee is banned from operating drones within a radius of 5 km of airports, ports, protected places, and any other locations determined by the authority.
The license cannot fly the drone after sunset without permission or film private places, flying over them, filming any military or security operations, displays, or traffic accidents, infringe on privacy, intercept, or disrupt means of communications.
Drones cannot be used to fly aerobically during shows, or competitions, chase manned aircraft, and fly near them.
Fines
In the event of a violation of these regulations, the competent authority may cancel the license or impose an administrative fine.
A fine of RO600 will be imposed for not following weather-related or other safety guidelines, RO500 for practicing without a license, RO300 for failure to follow the time and place in the license, RO300 for failure to comply with the actual purpose of using drones, RO200 for failure to carry the license or refusal to present it to the competent authority or the concerned authorities upon request.
New rules
Licenses issued to practice aviation activity and aerial work under old regulations shall continue to be valid until the expiry of their term, and their renewal shall be in accordance with the provisions of new regulations.
Other details
A drone is an aircraft that is remotely piloted, wired or wirelessly, by devices or platforms, or a self-piloted aircraft whose paths and functions are prepared in advance using artificial intelligence algorithms.
It can be used for commercial, research, or service works, such as photography, aerial survey, spraying, transporting equipment and materials, search and rescue, and other uses including recreational activities such as photography, racing, parades, and others.
Registration
The circular states that every person who owns or owns an unmanned aircraft must register with the competent authority on the form prepared for this purpose.
The drone or its parts may be brought into the Sultanate of Oman after the approval of the competent authority and concerned authorities.
It is also permissible to take the drone or its parts outside the Sultanate of Oman to carry out aviation activity, air work, maintenance, or dispose of it in accordance with civil aviation regulations. Depending on the circumstances.
The competent authority shall issue the Notam (Pilots’ Announcement) in the event that the practice of aviation activity or air work requires it, and determine the maximum permissible height of the unmanned aircraft (drone), and any other restrictions to ensure the safety of air navigation in the airspace of the Sultanate of Oman.
The authority supervising the protected place, airports, and ports, alone, or in coordination with the competent authority, may deal with the unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) that flies within its airspace without a license.
It is not permissible to install platforms or devices to obstruct the movement of unmanned aircraft (drones), jam their frequency, mislead their path, or control them and force them to land except with the approval of the competent authority and in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Military and security agencies are excluded from applying the provisions of these regulations, provided that they do not violate the rules of the air and the safety of air navigation, in coordination with the General Directorate of Air Navigation.
Eligibility
The following details are required to obtain a license, which includes the age of the applicant, if he is a natural person, must not be less than 18 eighteen years, and must be registered in the Sultanate of Oman if he is a legal person.
It is necessary to pass the test or training determined by the competent authority in accordance with civil aviation regulations.
The application for obtaining the license shall be submitted to the competent authority according to the form prepared for this purpose.
The competent authority shall study the application for obtaining the license and verify all documents, technical data, and specifications in coordination with the concerned authorities.
The applicant may be notified if he does not fulfill the documents, data, and specifications
The technical team will notify the deficiencies in his application, and grant him a period not exceeding 30 days from the date of notification to correct the deficiencies, otherwise, the application will be considered canceled.
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