COLOMBO, Jan 23 (NNN-LNW) – Sri Lanka’s civil aviation regulator, will introduce a licensing system for commercial and professional drone operators, for the first time, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) said, today.
Under the new framework, operators of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), seeking a pilot license, will be required to pass both a theory examination and a practical assessment, including a live demonstration of operational skills, the authority said.
Applicants must also complete a medical examination and obtain security clearance, before receiving approval to operate commercially.
The CAASL said that, as the national aviation authority, it oversees both manned and unmanned aircraft operations across the country.
The regulator said, the move comes as drone technology gains wider adoption globally, and they aim to promote higher safety standards and a more professional operating culture, within Sri Lanka’s growing drone industry.
Once implemented, Sri Lanka will become the second country in South Asia, after India, to establish a formal licensing system for drone pilots, the CAASL said.– NNN-LNW