Rosaviatsia issued the first airworthiness certificates for civil drones

For the first time, the Federal Air Transport Agency issued airworthiness certificates for unmanned civil aircraft (UCA) weighing over 30 kg. Documents were provided for two agricultural drones with registration numbers RA-134EP and RA-135EP.

The process of generating an application for a certificate along with its issuance took about a month. The documents for obtaining airworthiness certificates were received by the Federal Air Transport Agency on November 23. For each application, a state fee in the amount of 650 rubles was paid.

“One legal entity submitted two applications for an airworthiness certificate for two drones. They were the first to travel this path, quite quickly and successfully,” assured Deputy Head of the Federal Air Transport Agency Andrei Dobryakov, quoted by press service departments.

An airworthiness certificate is needed to confirm the right of the UAV to operate in the airspace based on the technical characteristics of the drone. In particular, the altitude and range of its flight are indicated. The issuance of an airworthiness certificate involves the applicant who made the UAV, the organization that issues the product assessment report, and the Federal Air Transport Agency, which checks the documents and issues the certificate. Drones weighing less than 30 kg do not need to obtain a certificate.

In June, Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko reportedthat the drones used by agricultural producers can be allowed to work at an altitude of up to 150 m. According to her, this option is being discussed with the Ministry of Transport. In August the Ministry of Industry and Trade statedthat several types of drones can be included in the experimental legal regime, which involves lifting the ban on their flights in the regions.

Laura Keffer