Terra Drone Indonesia set a milestone by becoming the first drone service provider in Indonesia to obtain a commercial BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) permit. The company was issued the permit on 21st July 2020, by the Directorate of Airworthiness & Aircraft Operations (DAAO), Director General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Indonesian drone regulations: Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) Part 107, released in 2015, imposes several restrictions on drones. The regulations restrict drones from flying above 150 meters and weighing more than 7 kilograms. They also prohibit flying drones beyond visual line of sight. Thus, by Terra Drone’s acquisition of the BVLOS permit, the scope for commercial drone applications can be vastly expanded.
A press release by the company stated, “By obtaining this permit, Terra Drone Indonesia will be able to fully utilize the maximum potential use of drones, especially for missions such as surveys, surveillance, and patrols,” More importantly, the commercial BVLOS permit will open doors to drone deliveries in the near future.
‘Terra Drone Indonesia is leading the Indonesian drone technology’
Since drone flights possess several risk factors such as flying above crowds, in controlled airspace, or interference with manned aircraft, several countries are yet to allow drones to fully operate BVLOS in civilian airspace. However, Terra Drone has been at the forefront of Indonesia’s drone technology. In March 2020, the company’s GPR drone detected underground utilities at ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology). Additionally, the drone service provider has held demonstrations of its LIDAR technology for state-sponsored companies and also performed drone inspections for Chevron.
“A thorough and tested operating procedure is the key to obtaining this permit from the civil aviation authority in Indonesia. Terra Drone Indonesia continues to be committed to introduce the benefits of drone technology through safe operation, as well as supporting the government in ensuring the safety of civil aviation,“ Michael Wishnu Wardana, CEO of Terra Drone Indonesia, stated.
Terra Drone is the world’s largest drone service provider. The company had earlier invested in the UTM (UAV Traffic Management) company Unifly along with a Swedish mining startup. In a recent instance, it has also been granted an inspection contract in Belgium. Therefore, as the global drone service consumption continues to rise, Terra Drone will continue to consequently expand its global footprint.
