PUBLISHED: 29 Apr 2025 at 06:30
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand ( CAAT ) is preparing to amend the Air Navigation Act to better support the growth of drone aviation nationwide.
CAAT Director ACM Manat Chavanaprayoon said the Transport Ministry has instructed CAAT to amend the Air Navigation Act, B. E. 2497 ( 1954), with a focus on enhancing aircraft security and professional activities.
The updated law, which is expected to take effect later this year, will introduce at least 30 new measures, including specific provisions for drones and unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAVs ).
The modifications aim to correlate Thai aircraft rules with global safety standards, including those set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and will use to both domestic and international air ships, ACM Manat said.
The CAAT is likewise promoting the use of robots in the business industry. Lately, it amended laws to support robots weighing over 25 kg, successful as of Sept 1, 2024. This has led to a substantial increase in the use of huge robots.
In addition to the congressional changes, CAAT has launched various initiatives to help the expanding aircraft industry.
One important task is a drone delivery company trial in city Bangkok, which is set to begin in June. The test will run between the Bang Rak National Telecom Office and Iconsiam, crossing the Chao Phraya River.
Following the test, CAAT will encourage providers to submit proposals for further drone shipping routes, based on need, ACM Manat added. Since 2018, CAAT has approved 127,507 UAV activities. Of these, around 10 % are agricultural drones, another 10 % are operated by foreign entities, and the rest are small drones.
To day, about 60,000 people have registered as aircraft operators. CAAT estimates nearly 20,000 robots remain unregulated. Under the fresh rules, all aircraft operators may be required to get a helicopter aircraft certification from CAAT by Sept 1.