GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 
                              OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION 
                                      OPP. SAFDURJUNG AIRPORT, NEW DELHI 
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                              DGCA RPAS  
                                         Guidance Manual  
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                                             
                                    Approved by the Director General of Civil Aviation 
                                                             
                                                   Revision 3 - 2020
                   DGCA RPAS Guidance Manual               1                               REVISION 3 
                                                                     
                                                         Record of Revision 
                          No.               Date                       Pages                      Remarks 
                                     th
                           0        9  November, 2018  Page 1 to 57                              First Edition 
                                        rd
                           1           3  June, 2019       Pages  1-4,  30-31,  33,  38-39,      Revision 1 
                                                           41, 46, 48, 50, 54-64 
                                        th
                           2          11  March, 2020      Pages 1-4, 31, 33, 48-50              Revision 2 
                           3            21 Dec,  2020      Pages 64-65, 66-70                    Revision 3 
                                                                                                        
                     DGCA RPAS Guidance Manual                     2                                   REVISION 3 
                    
                                                   Table of Contents 
                    
                   Record of Revision ..................................................................................................... 2 
                   Table of Contents ....................................................................................................... 3 
                   Introduction ................................................................................................................ 4 
                   Acronyms ................................................................................................................... 5 
                   Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................... 6 
                     Acquisition of RPAS ............................................................................................... 6 
                     Acquisition of RPAS- Flow Chart ............................................................................ 7 
                   Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................... 8 
                     Unique Identification Number (UIN) ........................................................................ 8 
                     UIN Application Flow Chart ..................................................................................... 9 
                   Chapter 3 ................................................................................................................. 10 
                     Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP) ........................................................ 10 
                     UAOP Application/ Renewal* Flow Chart ............................................................. 11 
                   Chapter 4 ................................................................................................................. 12 
                     RPAS Operation ................................................................................................... 12 
                   Chapter 5 ................................................................................................................. 13 
                     Remote Pilot & Training ........................................................................................ 13 
                     Remote Pilot Training Flow Chart ......................................................................... 15 
                   Chapter 6 ................................................................................................................. 16 
                     Manufacturing of RPAS ........................................................................................ 16 
                     Manufacturing of RPAS – Flow Chart ................................................................... 27 
                     Sample Certificate of Compliance ........................................................................ 28 
                   Chapter 7 ................................................................................................................. 29 
                     NPNT Specifications ............................................................................................. 29 
                   Chapter 8 ................................................................................................................. 58 
                     Procedure for acceptance of RPAS model for Digital Sky .................................... 58 
                     Checklist for acceptance of RPAS model ............................................................. 60 
                   Chapter 9 ................................................................................................................. 62 
                     Authorisation procedures for operations of RPAS on case-by-case basis ............ 62 
                   Chapter 10 ............................................................................................................... 66 
                     SOP Approval Procedure for RPAS/ UAS Operation ........................................... 66 
                    
                   DGCA RPAS Guidance Manual               3                               REVISION 3 
                    
                                                      Introduction 
                                                             
                         The objective of this Manual is to acquaint the public and the industry with the 
                   procedures being followed for processing all matter pertaining to issue of unique 
                   identification number, unmanned aircraft operator permit, and related activities. It will 
                   help them understand the flow of various processes involved and understand the 
                   intricacies of the system. 
                         It  has  been  our  endeavour  to  place  the  details  of  the  procedures  to  be 
                   followed by DGCA in a cogent and easily understandable manner. Therefore, the 
                   language used is simple and unnecessary details have been avoided. In order to 
                   make the reader comfortable, the references to various legislations and documents 
                   have been kept at the bare minimum.  
                                                                                                      
                                                                                                      
                                                                                        (Arun Kumar) 
                                                                                     Director General
                   DGCA RPAS Guidance Manual               4                               REVISION 3