OWING to the rapid request for the use of  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)/Remotely Piloted Aircraft otherwise known as drone the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will hold a One-day Stakeholders meeting to articulate its use in the Nigerian Airspace.
There has been a lot of interest shown for the civil use of drones in the country, though, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as far as its certification and operations are concerned.
Discussions at this stakeholders meeting will be centered around Safety Implications, Risk Assessment, Oversight, Regulations and Certification on the use of these remotely piloted aerial vehicles.
This, however, will not take away the fact that the NCAA has put in place the Regulations/Advisory Circular for certification and operation for the use of civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)/ Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in the Nigerian Airspace, through (Nig CARs Part 8.8.1.33) and implementing Standards.
Owing to the importance attached to this meeting, participants will be drawn from the Military, Federal Ministry of Aviation and its Parastatals/Agencies, Flying Clubs, Tour Operators, Media Practitioners (Aviation Press Corps), neighbouring African countries. Others are the film making industry (Nollywood), National Assembly (Aviation Committees) and Sports Organisations.
Since the Civil Operation of RPA/UAV will require approval/permit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), the need for the stakeholders meeting has become very necessary.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday November 21st 2006 at the Galaxy Hall of the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja and it is a mandatory exercise for all stakeholders in the interest of safer skies.
