DGCA approves third-party drone certification
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved third parties to certify of civilian drones. With this, drones can now be tested and certified by reputed Certification Bodies (CB) empaneled by the Quality Council of India (QCI). QCI will be starting the selection of CBs soon.
The DGCA has signed a memorandum to establish a mechanism for cooperation with the Quality Council of India (QCI), to develop and operate a certification scheme for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems for Digital Sky as per the Technical Standards defined by DGCA for RPAS and Registered Flight Modules, with procedures and required standards and specifications for Third Party Conformity Assessment systems under the scheme, as the Scheme owner.
The certification of RPAS will be as per technical standards defined by the DGCA for RPAS, Registered Flight Modules (RFM) and adherence to the requirements of NPNT. The process RPAS_ Introduction 8 Sept. 2020 3 will ensure that the RPAS meet applicable regulatory requirements and secure international acceptability. The system of certification herewith is based on guidelines provided in the international standard ISO/IEC 17067:2013, which guides the development of product certification schemes worldwide. The certification bodies approved under the scheme would eventually be accredited as per the international standard ISO 17065, by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), a constituent Board of QCI. Since the NABCB has achieved international equivalence for its accreditation program for product certification bodies by signing the multilateral mutual recognition arrangement of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), it forms the basis for international recognition and acceptance of certified products. The presence of Certification Mark and Logo facilitates marketing and in turn leads to the free flow of certified goods among countries through bilateral or regional free trade agreements, in general, and is expected to enhance exports of India in the world market, in particular.
