Sri Lanka:- No Clearance From CAA For UAV
By Camelia Nathaniel
The Wildlife Department has not obtained the approval of the Defence Ministry or the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the deployment of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to report on illegal activities taking place within the wild life parks.
According to a high ranking official of the Civil Aviation Authority no request has been submitted to them seeking approval to either import or develop such a device to be used by the Wildlife Department for surveillance. Accordingly no approval has been granted by the Civil Aviation Authority either. “Even for model aircraft development, one has to obtain the approval of the Civil Aviation Authority joint panel and the Ministry of Defence
However given the circumstances we do not have an approval process either in place for such a situation. But had the Wildlife Department made such a request we could have assisted them in the process.
I am not certain whether the Wildlife Department had developed this UAV in the country; however even in such an instance, they need to obtain approval,” he added.
Meanwhile when The Sunday Leader inquired from Customs officials about the import of the UAV, they were unaware of how such a device was brought into the country without the proper documentation and approval of the relevant authorities. When asked, the Defence Ministry and the Air Force too denied any knowledge of either the import or development of a UAV for use by the Wildlife Department. However now the UAV has disappeared and the Wildlife authorities have been unable to locate the device.
The Wildlife Department introduced the UAV to report on illegal activities inside the Uda Walawe National Park recently.
However Wildlife Resources Minister Vijith Vijithamuni Soyza had claimed that the UAV had disappeared, subsequent to being deployed on the 22nd of February.
The Minister further stated that in investigation is underway to locate the missing UAV.
The Sunday Leader made several attempts to contact the Minister and the Director of Wildlife, but were unsuccessful.
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/03/02/no-clearance-from-caa-for-uav/
