Bahrain preparing two-tiered web-based Drone Hub System

TDT | Manama             

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain is gearing up for introducing a streamlined web-based drone licensing system supported by a mobile application.

The move, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT), aims at simplifying the registration process for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the country.

The initiative involves rolling out a web-based Drone Hub System, designed to assist the Aviation Safety and Security Directorate and Aeronautical Licenses Directorate in effectively managing the approval procedure for drone services.

For the purpose, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications has also initiated a tender process, inviting potential developers to create such a system. The proposed framework envisions a two-tiered system, comprising both a public and a government portal.

The public portal will enable customers to submit their drone registration requests, while the internal portal, accessible to MTT and relevant stakeholders, will handle request processing and associated tasks. In a bid to enhance user convenience, an accompanying mobile app is also being planned.

This app will allow customers to easily submit, track, and access information about their requests. It’s crucial to note that, irrespective of their size or weight, all unmanned aerial vehicles must be registered with the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs under the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications.

UAV registration will typically remain valid for a span of three years, unless a shorter period is specified, suspended, or cancelled – whichever comes earlier. Bahrain’s regulations further stipulate that drones must not be operated within a five-mile radius of an airport and should always be kept within the operator’s line of sight.

Additionally, drones are required to fly at altitudes below 400 feet, during daylight or civil twilight, at speeds below 100mph, and to yield right of way to manned aircraft. Furthermore, operators are prohibited from flying drones directly over people or launching them from moving vehicles, unless within sparsely populated areas.