Airspace map for drone operations released: Know where all you can fly them

NEW DELHI: The aviation ministry on Friday released India’s airspace map for drone operations which clearly demarcates where all can drones be flown (green zone), not flown (red list) or flown with previous clearance (yellow zone).

The aviation ministry during a statement said: “The drone airspace map is an interactive map of India that demarcates the yellow and red zones across the country. Green zone is that the airspace upto 400 feet that has not been designated as a red or yellow zone; and upto 200 feet above the world located between 8-12 km from the perimeter of an operational airport.”

“In green zones, no permission whatsoever is required for operating drones with an all-up weight upto 500 kg. Yellow zone is that the airspace above 400 feet during a designated green zone; above 200 feet within the area located between 8-12 km from the perimeter of an operational airport and above ground within the area located between 5-8 km from the perimeter of an operational airport.”

Drone operations in yellow zone require permission from the concerned traffic control authority – AAI, IAF, Navy, HAL etc. because the case could also be .
Yellow zone has been reduced from 45 km earlier to 12 km from the airport perimeter.

Red zone is that the ‘no-drone zone’ within which drones are often operated only after a permission from the Central Government. The airspace map could also be modified by authorised entities from time to time, the ministry says.

“Anyone getting to operate a drone should mandatorily check the newest airspace map for any changes in zone boundaries. The drone airspace map is freely available on the digital sky platform to all or any with none login requirements.”