Hi everyone

I append below, for information of all members, the text of my email to the Ministry of Civil Aviation requesting exemption from the proposed rules for hobbyist aeromodellers like us. If more of us send emails on similar lines, it may have the necessary impact.

Dear sirs,

It is observed that the captioned draft bill covers ALL unmanned aircraft upto 500kg all up weight. And that it prescribes registration of all UAVs, maintenance of records and logs of operation, pilot training and certification, insurance and penalties for violations.

I am a member of RCIndia.org, an online forum for remote control enthusiast hobbyists, that has over 24,000 members. Most of the members are hobbyists who build, assemble and fly remote controlled model aeroplanes for recreational and/or educational purposes. The majority of these model aeroplanes have an all up weight not exceeding 5kg, as stipulated by FAI for model aircraft of F3A category.

It is observed that the draft rules include provisions for making exceptions and exemptions from the proposed rules. For example,

"9. No person shall operate an unmanned aircraft system, unless
it is covered by a Third-Party insurance policy that meets the
requirements specified in this regard by the Central
Government.
Provided that Central Government may by notification in the
official gazette make rules for exempting any UAS from the
requirement of insurance."

It is also observed that there is scope for classification and categorisation of different classes of model aircraft.

" 5. The Central Government may by notification, in official
gazette, make rules for classification, categorization of the
Unmanned Aircraft and nature of operations undertaken by the
Unmanned Aircraft."


In view of the above, I, on behalf of numerous hobbyists aeromodellers in India, humbly request that the honourable government provide exemption from the proposed rules for the following:

HOBBYIST AEROMODELLER - those who build/ assemble/ buy and fly remote controlled model aircraft for recreation and/or educational purposes.

MODEL AIRCRAFT - non-autonomous, free flying, or remote controlled model flying machines not exceeding all up weight of 5kg.

I shall be highly obliged for sympathetic consideration of the exemption requested above.

Yours faithfully,

K.K.Iyer
Global Moderator, RCIndia.org
20th Sep 2025

Thank you for sending this. It will help all genuine aeromodellers. Much appreciated

For those who wish to email their comments on the Draft Bill to the Min of Civil Aviation, the last date is 30th of this month

Dear Sir , Your letter is certainly very remarkable, and very appreciable, I have been to their "Drone Expo" in New Delhi and Hindon Air Base previously, I found nothing that caters to the Hobby Community, They were just showcasing for the Defence, Survey or Agriculture where it appeared that most were middleman who would undergo Joint Venture with the Technically Expert company and procure the Deal for the Govt,  hope the ministry is able to understand the plight of the hobbyists. What I feel personally is that the Government and other Indian Private Agencies are pushing for is regulatory and mandatory compliances that enables the existence and income or profit of such organisations that provide Licenses or certificates for money to anyone , and most hobbyists already are leaving the Hobby due to lack of Space , time and the scarcity of spare parts . Because although Our nation is making great progress in "Drone Technology" Its mostly for things like Agriculture or survey where the pilots hardly have any real interest in flying , its just their Bread and butter. And very few Hobby Shops are alive as compared to say 10years ago, most offline shops like RCBazaar are closed up.