DRONE regulation is a worldwide challenge. Even first-world countries are facing difficulties in regulating it because of its fast-paced circulation.
Drones, also known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), are fast emerging agents of change with the widespread of applications ranging from photography, videography, to agriculture, and infrastructures. There are also reports that drones were used as warfare weapons such that of terrorism attacks. It is one of the major reasons why the civil aviation authorities in the world are hardly pushing for its regulation.
The Civil Aviation Authorities of the Philippines (Caap) has been pushing for the drone regulation for years now but is only receiving low percentage of response from the drone operators because many of them have limited knowledge about its legal processes and few do not have enough means to do it.
The challenge have pushed drone operators in Davao City to make an initiative to help the national government and the City Government of Davao, which recently pushed for a city ordinance on drone regulation by acquiring Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) license or Controller Certificate. RPAS license is one of the three major requirements of Caap for the drone operators to fly their aircraft legally in the country. The two other major requirements are the drone registration and the operators certificate for the commercial used aircraft.
The recently held licensing exam has two parts. First was the online exam that was held at the Asian International School of Aeronautics & Technology (Aisat) in Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City. The Aisat is the only school in the region that offers venue for RPAS licensing online examination. The second part was the practical exam that was held at the University of the Philippines (UP) Sports Complex in Mintal, Davao City.
The 32 examiners composed of 21 operators from Davao and 11 from Cebu performed different drone maneuvers and was assessed by Airworthiness Department Civil Aviation Regulations Officer Captain RodaBathan and Flight Safety Inspector Helen Patizar.
The activity was organized by the Davao Drone Society (DDS) led by its president Cleveland Roche, Engr. Randy Abeto, and Richard Ramirez with the help of Davao UAV Pilot Association, Micromedia Digital Video Productions, Fly Elite Philippines-Cebu, BJMP Cebu, DENR Environment Management Bureau (EMB), and University of Southern Mindanao.