FROM today, photographers, enthusiasts and operators of drones will be required to seek permission of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to operate the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).In recent months, drones have become the preferred choice of mainly professional and amateur photographers and some media outlets for use in capturing still and video images of national events as well as for recreational photography, including the capture of landscape images.
In an advertisement which was published in the Sunday Chronicle over the weekend, the GCAA issued a directive effective February 27, 2017, stating that no person shall operate a UAV in Guyana’s airspace without first having received written permission from the GCAA.
The GCAA noted that the directive is not applicable to the use of a UAV which is seven kilograms or less in weight and which is not being used for aerial work or commercial activity or which does not have the capacity to transmit or receive information other than that required to control the flight of the vehicle.
In that regard, smaller drones without camera or audio features may be operated without the permission of the aviation body.
According to the GCAA, persons who wish to operate UAVs shall apply to the GCAA in writing for approval and provide the aviation body with details of the intended operation.
GCAA said the use in obtaining, recording to transmitting information, whether the machine is visible while in the air or otherwise, the operator may submit a request in writing which includes the name and address of the applicant and the company for which he /she is working , if the latter is applicable.
The application process includes the provision by the applicant of a drawing or reference map indicating the geographical area over the area intended for operation, details of the aircraft to be used including its make, model, serial number and its dimensions.
The intended date and time of usage, purpose is also required by the GCAA.
In addition, the operator should provide proof that he/she has liability insurance pursuant to the Civil Aviation Regulations currently in force.
The GCAA also said that notwithstanding the directive, all relevant laws apply to the use of UAVs including the Criminal Law Act, Customs Act and the Telecommunications Act of Guyana.
The operation of UAVs, mainly drones has been largely unregulated in most jurisdictions, although in the United States, concerns have been raised about their varying uses.
As such, from December 21, 2015, all hobby type UAVs between 250 grams and 25 kilograms were required to be registered with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The use of UAVs in the US for law-enforcement purposes is regulated at a state level while those for use in commercial purposes carry additional requirements including certification of the pilot- in- command.