NEW AIR SERVICE REGULATIONS FOR UAV’S OPEN THE DOOR FOR COMMERCIAL USE
(Posted 04th March 2018)
The new air service regulations in Rwanda, passed only in January this year as part of an updated regulatory regime, now permits the Rwandan Civil Aviation Authority to license commercial drone operators and interest is said to be keen already.
In 2016 were trials started in Rwanda for the delivery of urgently needed medical supplies and equipment when Zipline, an American drone pioneer, partnered with the Rwandan government to launch the service – a move which is said to have saved perhaps hundreds of lives since.
Potential operators had viewed the initial regulatory regime as too restrictive and the Rwandan government and RCAA took the observations and suggestions seriously enough to embark on a fast tracked revision.
This puts Rwanda once again into African pole position and other countries on the continent are now challenged to follow suit.
In Kenya are courses in the making for drone operators, as the only such facility presently exists in South Africa.
Drone operators in Rwanda need a pilot licence as an added measure of competence and to promote safe operations from the moment new ventures are launched.
