General

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) is launching a licensing system for drone pilots for the first time. This new system will apply to operators of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) involved in commercial and professional work. Under the leadership of Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, who is the Director General of Civil Aviation and CEO, CAASL has already put in place standard drone rules as per IS-53. These rules will serve as the basis for the new UAS pilot licensing program. To obtain a pilot license, UAS operators must take a theory exam and a practical test, which includes a live demonstration of their flying skills. They will also need to pass a medical check and get security clearance. The first evaluation for the UAS pilot license was conducted by Capt. Daminda Rambukwella. Praveen Wijesinghe, a Civil Aviation Inspector specializing in Unmanned Aircraft Systems, successfully completed the practical test at CAASL after passing the theory part. Currently, all drones used for commercial activities must be registered with CAASL, which is the National Aviation Authority responsible for both piloted and unmanned aircraft operations in Sri Lanka. With many countries around the world using UAS technology in different areas, CAASL aims to promote a new way of operating within the drone sector in Sri Lanka. Once the UAS pilot licensing system is in place, Sri Lanka will be the second country in South Asia to have such a system, after India. This initiative is expected to boost economic growth by linking and supporting various industries throughout Sri Lanka.