New system simplifies drone importation, registration

Dar es Salaam. Applicants for drone operation permits can now spend a maximum of one week instead of the previous four to eight weeks to get a green light, thanks to the launch of an online application system to replace the manual one.

To optimise the application channel for unmanned aircraft activities, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) launched the drone online permit management system on Tuesday evening.

Speaking at the launch here in the city, TCAA acting director general Daniel Malanga said the new system will enable applicants to register drones as well as apply for operations, imports, and export permits.

“This system is user-friendly, and it is meant to cut the long application process and the hassles that applicants were previously going through,” said Mr Malanga, who doubles as economic regulation director at TCAA.

The new move by TCAA could be described as a sigh of relief to a section of aviation experts, who are on record as claiming that a delay in issuing licences to drone operators will not make any business sense and hence adversely impact the growth of the industry.

On why it was taking so long—one week—to issue approvals even with the automation of the application system, Mr Malanga said it was due to the sensitivity of drone operations, considering that they were using the same skies as aircraft.

“We need to strictly regulate drone operations to avoid accidents, and that is why an approval process involves numerous stakeholders,” underscored Mr Malanga, without revealing the stakeholders he was referring to.

He said with the new system, applicants will have a chance to send notification messages in areas they intend to operate. This, according to the regulator, is unlike the manual system, where they had to make a call or send an email to the regulator.

Mr Malanga added that the online system will help applicants know the status of their applications while they are in the approval stages.

This is as opposed to the manual system, where they get updates by calling TCAA or sending a reminder email to the regulator.

However, with the new system, what the applicants need to do is just log in from time to time to see if their application has been approved, according to TCAA drone inspector Ibrahim Ahmad. “If there is a problem, then the system will direct the applicant to rectify it,” he asserted.

Mr Ahmad said the new system will speed up the registration of drones and the issuance of permits.

“We are currently overwhelmed. The pending permits for approval are numerous,” he told The Citizen in a sideline interview at a launch event.

He said since TCAA started to implement drone laws in 2020, the regulator has registered only 245 drones.

The regulator has also issued 160 permits for the import of drones and 300 for their operation.

Clarifying why the operation permits exceeded the number of registered drones, Mr Ahmad said some permits were being issued on a special basis to unregistered drones owned by foreigners.

“We only register drones owned by locals,” he said.

Adding: “In some circumstances, we also issue special permits to locals who have special missions somewhere, but their permits do not allow them to go there.”

As part of the implementation of the Civil Aviation (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) Regulations 2018 [G.N. 758], in 2020 TCAA directed that all drones be registered before they are to be used and this was for security purposes.

The regulator said stakeholders had a role to play in ensuring that increasing drone traffic is safe and secure on the ground and in the air.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao), aircraft capable of being operated without a pilot shall not be so operated except with the written authorisation of the authority and in accordance with such conditions as may be specified in the authorisation.