India permits Power Company to use Hi-Tech Drones for data collection and mapping
India today permitted country’s premier power PSU NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) to deploy hi-tech Drone RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) for carrying out inspection activities in thermal power plants. Though the permission is only till December 2020, it is likely to extend as per the requirement of the thermal company.
The Hi-Tech drones
would be used for terrain mapping, aerial inspections stockpile volumetric
analysis and other applications at three sites of NTPC. The deployment of RPAS
would drastically reduce the data collection cost and would also provide accurate
data for site examination.
Initially, the deployment would be for carrying out research and
inspection activities at Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station, Madhya
Pradesh, Gadarwara Super Thermal Power Plant, Madhya Pradesh, and Sipat Super
Thermal Power Project, Chhattisgarh, said a senior officer of the Ministry of
Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which
had granted a conditional exemption to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
Ministry of Civil Aviation Joint Secretary Amber Dubey said “NTPC will use the drones to carry out terrain mapping, stockpile volumetric analysis, aerial inspections and other applications at the three NTPC sites. This will provide NTPC excellent data with high accuracy at a fraction of the cost. This is in line with Government of India’s attempts to promote the use of industrial drones in infrastructure, mining, agriculture and disaster relief etc.”
He said the conditional exemption is till 31December or until the full operationalization
of Digital Sky Platform, whichever is earlier. Conditions and limitations to
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd, the Ministry said.
(by Vijay Thakur)
Condition and Limitation to NTPC for use of Drone
1. This exemption to National Thermal Power
Corporation (NTPC) Ltd from the relevant provisions of CAR Section 3, Series X,
Part I, is subject to exemption from Rule 15A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 by
Ministry of Civil Aviation.
2. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Ltd shall obtain necessary clearances from (a) Local Administration (b)
Ministry of Defence (c) Ministry of Home Affairs (d) Air Defence clearance from
Indian Air Force and (e) Airport Authority of India (AAI) prior to operation of
Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).
3. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Ltd shall only operate the RPAS which has been voluntarily disclosed to
Government of India and issued with a valid Drone Acknowledgement Number (DAN)
(i.e. D1DXOOS1T and D1DXOOS24 for NETRA PRO of M/s ldeaForge Technology Pvt
Ltd).
4. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Ltd shall submit a comprehensive brief on the scope of operations and the copy
of SOP to Flight Standards Directorate (FSD), DGCA. Operation of Remotely
Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) shall be carried out only after the vetting/
approval of SOP.
5. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd
shall take necessary permission regarding Aerial Photography, if applicable,
from Directorate of Regulations & Information, DGCA.
6. The photographs/video-graphs, if taken through
RPAS shall be used by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd only.
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd shall be responsible for security
of RPAS and data collected through RPAS.
7. The operation of RPAS shall be restricted to day
operations (from sunrise to Sunset), within Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS).
8. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Ltd shall indemnify DGCA from any legal cases or any other issues arising due
to these operations.
9. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Ltd shall ensure that the RPAS is in working condition and shall be responsible
for any eventualities due to malfunction I disorientation of equipment.
10. In case of any injury to any person due to
physical contact with the equipment, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Ltd shall be responsible for medico-legal issues.
11. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Ltd shall have adequate level of insurance to cover any damage to third party
resulting from accident I incident occurred during the operation of RPAS.
12. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
Ltd shall ensure that hazardous material or variable payload are not carried in
I using the RPA under any circumstances
13. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd
shall ensure safety, security and privacy of public, property, operator etc.
Further, in case of any eventuality, DGCA shall not be held responsible.
14. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd
shall not operate the RPAS in no-fly zones specified in Para 13.1 of the CAR
Section 3, Series X, Part I without the approval of concerned Ministries/
authorities.
15. RPAS shall not be operated in the vicinity of
airport as per the provisions of the CAR. If operated near the airport,
approval from Airports Authority of India (AAI) shall be taken in advance
regarding time and area of operations of RPAS.
16. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd
shall ensure that only trained I experienced bonafide personnel operates the
RPAS.
17. This letter shall not override other restrictions
I SOP on Remotely Piloted Aircraft System framed by other Government Agencies.
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