Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as drone, is one of the most astounding technological discoveries of the 19th century; though the use of which gained momentum much lately. Drones are a component of an unmanned aircraft system, a ground-based controller and a system of communications between the two.The flight of drones may operate with various degrees of autonomy: either under remote control by a human operator or autonomously by onboard computers.
Drones are now rapidly expanding all around the globe as they enhance the lives of everyone in commercial, scientific, recreational, agricultural, and other applications, such as policing and surveillance, product deliveries, aerial photography, infrastructure inspections, smuggling, and drone racing. Drones are amazing tools which are highly vital in the fields of journalism, the film industry, shipping, disaster management, search and rescue in the aviation business, structural safety inspections, wildlife monitoring, inter alia.
Nonetheless, the use of drones does require strict regulation due to their complicated adverse impacts. Just to mention a case, the state owned Saudi Aramco oil processing facilities at Abqauq were attacked by drone on September 14, 2019. It was later reported that Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the world’s largest oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia which is vital to global energy supplies. The assault had disrupted output and exports, with one source claiming 5 million barrels per day of crude production had been impacted – nearly half the kingdom’s output.
Drones have been used by CIA for predator purposes of terrorists; or so to say for military purposes in general. In other words, despite the potential benefits for commercial purposes, drones are full of challenges and dangers. Nowadays, the upheavals are slightly outweighing the benefits.Some nations are being disturbed on the use of drones in many ways; especially in terms of protecting the safety and security of their airspaces. They sometimes go much higher to collide with commercial aircrafts. Military attacks due to drones have been occurring everywhere in the world by simple market available drones.
First of all, drones can be purchased inexpensively, easily and operated with very little regulatory control or even guidance necessary to safely fly in the national airspace. There are a number of ways that commercial-off-the-shelf drones have been weaponized with intentions to attack warfighters or military bases overseas.
The second issue is that until recently, drones were not required to be registered and there are a large number of unregistered drones which make it extremely difficult to identify the drone pilot. This is especially important to identify friend from foe. Additionally, there is no single counter drone technology that addresses all of the various drone technologies. One obvious consideration is to understand the implications of taking down a drone while flying over people and the possible injury to those people.
In Ethiopia, the use of drones for various purposes is booming a recently. They are being used for various recreational, media purposes and other purposes. Drones, by and large, are imported to Ethiopia by companies mainly from China, Thailand and Dubai like the rest of commodities. With regards to import of Drones to Ethiopia, a permit from the Office of Government Communications Affairs was required and an import fee of 100 USD was charged. Besides, a company or a person who secured the permit had to recalibrate, prior each drone flight, the drone compass due to the volcanic activity and the resultant differences in the magnetic field. This was how it was done earlier in Ethiopia. At times, the federal government was forced to pass strict order to ban any entry of drones to the country; seeing that there was no proper mechanism to control or monitor their movements. However, banning import could not be a solution; as their economic advantages are very enormous.
The number of drones imported to the country is increasing from time to time. Nearly a year ago, there seems to be confusion as to which government institution should be responsible with regarding granting permission for Drones. Some claim the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) to be accountable; while others desire the National Intelligence Security Services (NISS) to take care of the business. By now, this dilemma seems to be solved as ECAA is working on preparing a national rule and standards on the use of UAVs in a wider perspective. UAV is in fact the right term to use as they do incorporate balloons which are mainly used for recreational and exploration purposes.
Drone usage in Ethiopia by both government offices and private institution is escalating. With this escalation, drone usage has become unmanageable enticing colossal threat to the aviation industry- mounting safety and security concerns to protect the country’s airspace.
The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), like the rest of Aviation authorities in other nations, is the institution entitled to carry out the task of using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. So far, the authority has prepared draft ‘Ethiopian Civil Aviation Rules and Standards’ regarding the use of drones in the country. The enactment is nearing its final stage; though it is not yet ratified. Currently, ECAA is holding discussions and validating it with stakeholders; especially with NISS. This is a very important undertaking in regulating the use of the UAVs to ensure safety and security standards in the country. Less than ten countries have so far devised rules on the use UAVs in Africa.
Until the enactment of rule and standard, permission to drone services in Ethiopia is being given with simple fulfillments of requirements; like limiting the height of its operation (to protect from collision with commercial aircrafts and electric transferring lines), prohibition of usage near prohibited areas like the National Palace, hospitals, military restricted zones, among others. These are simple binding agreements to keep the user accountable for any damages that might occur due to any misappropriations.
The enactment of UAVs rule and standard shall be a breakthrough in minimizing risks and legal proliferation drone operation in the country. First and foremost, it helps protect citizens from dangers by prohibiting usage for other purposes apart from what they were supposed to be. Safety and security issues will be ensured.
The bottom line, the drone technology does have significant benefits to a country. To mention just few of them, farmers use drones to spray pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals. Special cameras and sensors are used to spot problems in the crops. Diseased parts of the crop can be spotted early. In the developed world, different types of data related to the farm, crop, land and atmospheric conditions can be collected; which is used to ensure healthy crops and successful harvest.
Law-enforcement agencies use drones to fight crimes. They use it for surveillance of a suspected target. Real-time surveillance is useful during active crime scenes where sending the police personnel without knowing the ground situation can be dangerous.
In the Civil Aviation industry, drones are used for search and rescue purposes during airplane crashes and accidents. It is difficult to know the magnitude of destruction immediately after a disaster. There is an urgent need to find ground information quickly. Sending search and rescue teams to such an area without prior knowledge of ground conditions may result in a waste of precious time.
Many Ethiopian students are showing greater inclination towards drone technology and other remotely controlled innovations nowadays. They should be encouraged.
The simplicity of the technology, however, should not mislead us; as their adverse impacts are also multitudinous if not properly channeled. It is also important to note that some nations who have previously granted permission for import of drones have revoked it; after they suffered huge damage due to abusing their use; such as for terrorism purposes.The rules and standards to be enacted should answer such detrimental impacts testified in other countries.
Stay Strong Ethiopia! God Bless My Country!
The Ethiopian Herald July 30, 2020
BY ENEDALE ASSEFA
