Can’t fly drone without passport: Rule dampens Gujarat’s dream to be drone hub
Amid the Gujarat government’s push to promote the use of drones in several sectors including forestry, agriculture, geology, mining and disaster management, the state is facing a shortage of certified drone pilots.
The reason — a mandate by the Director General of Civil Aviation requiring candidates enrolling for drone pilot training to have a passport.
The state government announced its drone policy in August to encourage commercial use of drones and generate 25,000 jobs in the process, a vision backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wants India to become the world’s drone hub.
