Drone safety
The unauthorized operation of Drones at MMA2, or in the surrounding areas, presents a significant safety hazard to aircraft and passengers. The purpose of this Instruction is to provide guidelines on reporting of unauthorized Drone activity, as well as the approvals required should organizations wish to use an Unmanned Aerial System at MMA2.
Drone technology is advancing rapidly and there are already examples of organizations utilizing Drones to great effect. It is, however, necessary to control the use of Drones in close proximity and within the Airport boundary, in order that potential safety hazards can be assessed and mitigated.
Should any company, or organisation, at MMA2 have a genuine operational case for using Drones, they must formally submit a request to MMA2 for review and formal approval (This is in addition to any licensing or regulation imposed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority).
The Nigerian agency responsible for drone safety, NCAA, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying drones for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details, go to the link above.
Are drones allowed in Nigeria?
According to NCAA, drones are allowed in Nigeria, subject to NCAA regulations. Read on for details.
Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Nigeria:
Here is a summary table provided by the NCAA of prerequisites for using an unmanned aircraft in Nigeria:
| Aircraft Mass | Air worthiness approval | Registration | Operating Authorisation | Pilot Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25kg and less | No | Yes | Yes (Note 1) | Yes (Note 1 & 2) |
| More than 25kg, up to and including 150kg | Yes (Note 3) | Yes (Note 3) | Yes | Yes (Note 2) |
| More than 150 kg | NCAA airworthiness approval in certain areas (Note 3) | Yes | Yes | Yes (Note 2) |
Note:
- Applicable for aircrafts use for Aerial Work purposes if flown within a congested area or close to people or property.
- Equivalent pilot experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis during application for an operating authorization.
- It may be possible to obtain certain exemptions from the airworthiness and registration requirements.
GUIDELINES FOR THE OPERATIONS OF RPAS/UAV IN NIGERIA
Flight by remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs) in controlled airspace and over populated areas presents problems to the Authority in terms of ensuring the safety of other users of airspace and persons on the ground.
In the past, safety assurance would normally have been in the form of a prohibition of such activities, however, improvements in the technology associated with RPAs means that the potentials exist for the operators of RPAs to comply with any safety, security and privacy requirements imposed by the Authority, which will ensure an adequate level of safety.
The penalties for the operator may be increased complexity, increased weight, reduced payload and increase cost. In most cases, these factors will render commercial operations non-viable, however, as costs reduce and miniaturization continues, builders of RPAs may soon be able to develop cost effective solutions to current constraints…
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