In Azerbaijan control will be established over civilian drones, checks will be conducted

At a meeting of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship of the Milli Majlis, a draft amendment to the Law "On Aviation" was considered, providing for increased control over civilian unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

This is reported by 1news.az citing APA.

According to the bill, an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle will be considered a civilian autonomous vehicle that flies using an automated control system without direct or constant human intervention in the control process.

The operator of an autonomous drone will be a person with the appropriate certificate who programs the flight route of the vehicle before departure and ensures the functioning of the automated control system.

In addition, a remote control center will be defined as a control point from which the operation of the automated control system of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is remotely ensured.

The operation of these aircraft will be carried out on the basis of a registration certificate, an operator certificate (and an operations permit) issued by the relevant executive authority in accordance with this Law and other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

An autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle will be able to perform flights only in geographical zones determined by the relevant executive authority, based on criteria approved by the same authority.

The design and production of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle must meet the following requirements:

- ensure stability commensurate with the risks that may arise in any flight conditions and comply with cybersecurity requirements;

- be capable of safe control and maneuvering in any operating conditions, including in the event of failure of one or more systems;

- its engines, propellers and other components must remain operational in all operating conditions, as well as reduce the risks that may arise from any malfunctions for the safety of third parties on the ground and other airspace users.

- ensure management of any situations and emergency circumstances (incidents) in which a risk to flight safety may arise, as well as guarantee the safety of property.

Individuals and legal entities, including branches and representative offices of foreign legal entities, must obtain a certificate in the manner established by the Law "On Transport" to operate as an operator.

The operator of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is obliged to:

- monitor the operation of the automated control system during the operation of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle;

- in the event of a threat to operational safety due to weather conditions, the vehicle leaving the established geographical zones, external interference in the automated control system, malfunctions or emergency situations (incidents), promptly intervene in the operation of the system in accordance with its warnings, including issuing commands to stop movement;

- ensure the storage and protection of data related to the use of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle for the last 6 (six) months;

- ensure the transfer of automated control system data in real time to the relevant information system of the body (institution) determined by the authorized executive authority, as well as receive through this system up-to-date information about geographical zones and related restrictions displayed on an interactive map;

- in the event of an aviation accident or incident involving an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle, immediately report this to the relevant authorized body to inform state bodies;

- comply with the manufacturer's instructions and operational restrictions related to geographical zones;

- in the event of a threat to other aircraft, people, animals, the environment or property, immediately stop the operation.

If the operator of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is an individual, he himself; if a legal entity, its employees monitoring the automated control system of autonomous vehicles, as well as the automated control system itself and the remote control center must meet the requirements specified in the Law "On Transport".

The owner (possessor) or operator of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is obliged to maintain it in a condition corresponding to the technical and software requirements of the manufacturer, engage an operator with the appropriate certificate to control the autonomous aircraft, and also ensure receipt from the manufacturer of operational rules and procedures for intervention (stopping operation) in case of malfunctions and emergency situations.

The owner (possessor) or operator of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle, or an operator engaged under a civil law contract, creates a remote control center (except in cases where operation is carried out outside such a center), and also ensures regular updating of the center's software, its cybersecurity and security audit.

Flights of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles in the airspace of the Republic of Azerbaijan are permitted only with the permission of the unmanned aerial vehicle flight management and coordination center, which plans and coordinates the use of airspace, organizes air traffic and control in areas where responsibility for air traffic organization is assigned to the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The operation of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles must be carried out in accordance with the conditions and restrictions of geographical zones.

In controlled airspace and in the aerodrome area, operations of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles are carried out only with the permission of the unmanned aerial vehicle flight management and coordination center. To obtain such permission, the operator must send the following information and documents to the email address determined by the center at least 3 hours before the start of the operation:

- name of the operator;

- number of the registration certificate of the autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle used;

- start and end time of the operation;

- nature of the operation;

- copy of the operator certificate and operations permit.

After receiving the information and documents, the unmanned aerial vehicle flight management and coordination center makes a decision to issue a permit or refuse within no more than 3 (three) hours and notifies the applicant by email.

The center refuses to issue a permit in the following cases:

- when providing false information and documents;

- when it is impossible to perform the flight due to weather conditions;

- when there are flight restrictions in the relevant geographical zones.

According to the draft, control over the implementation of the provisions of this law is carried out by the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority.

The specified body exercises supervision over compliance with the requirements of the law by operators who have received a certificate and operations permit, in the manner established by the Law "On the Regulation of Inspections in the Field of Entrepreneurship and Protection of the Interests of Entrepreneurs" (in relation to business entities) and other regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Control over the civil circulation of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles will be carried out in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the List of Items That May Belong to Individual Participants in Civil Circulation and Are Allowed for Circulation on the Basis of a Special Permit (Limitedly Circulable Items)" and other regulatory legal acts.

Felix Vishnevetsky