The Starting Point: Core Definitions
Any discussion of drones begins with the terminology of the law. An aerodrome is defined as a defined area of land or water surface, with buildings and installations, intended wholly or partly for the arrival, movement and departure of aircraft; an airport is an enterprise receiving, servicing, processing and dispatching aircraft, passengers, baggage, cargo or mail, with a terminal and servicing personnel; the law likewise defines the heliport and the aerodrome operator. Knowing these definitions matters because the lawfulness of a drone flight is often determined precisely in relation to these objects and their protection zones — within the aerodrome protection zone established by the agency or the Ministry of Defence, a restriction regime applies, and a flight planned without regard to that regime starts as unlawful.
The law also defines commercial air transportation — a flight performed by an aircraft for the carriage of passengers, baggage, cargo or mail for remuneration or on hire; the operator certificate; authorisation — the authority granted to an operator registered in Georgia for the purposes of high-risk commercial specialised aviation; the declaration — a statement submitted to the agency confirming that a person’s activity complies with Georgian legislation; and inspection — the process of assessing compliance of civil aviation activity with the requirements of legislation and international treaties, conducted by an authorised inspector of the agency. Together these instruments form the legal map without which planning drone operations is flying blind.
Unmanned Systems and Their Operational Frame
The central norm of drone regulation concerns unmanned aircraft systems: an unmanned aircraft system is the totality of unmanned aircraft and the elements associated with their operation, and an unmanned aircraft is a flying apparatus on board of which no pilot is present. The rules for the registration and flight, operation, use and restrictions of these systems are determined by a normative act of the agency — which means that the concrete requirements for drones are detailed at the administrative level and their currency must be verified before every season of operations, because amendments to such acts directly reshape what is permitted.
Aviation Occurrences: What Counts as an Accident and What as an Incident
A drone operator must understand how the law classifies occurrences. An aviation accident is an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft — for a piloted aircraft from the moment a person boards with the intention of flight until all persons have left it, and for an unmanned aircraft from readiness for movement for the purpose of flight until the end of the flight and the shutdown of the main power system — if: a person suffers fatal or serious injury; the aircraft is damaged or its structure fails in such a way that structural strength is impaired or major repair or replacement of a part becomes necessary; or the aircraft becomes missing or inaccessible. An incident is an occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the use of an aircraft which affects or could affect the safety of its operation, and a serious incident is one whose circumstances indicate a high probability of an accident. Injuries from natural causes, self-inflicted injuries, injuries inflicted by another person, or those suffered by a stowaway hidden outside the areas accessible to passengers and crew do not count as an accident.
The purpose of the investigation deserves particular emphasis. Aviation accidents and incidents occurring on the territory of Georgia are subject to an investigation in the manner determined by Georgian legislation, and the purpose of that investigation is the prevention of future accidents and incidents — not the establishment of anyone’s blame or responsibility. For an operator this means that open and complete documentation of an occurrence does not increase the risk; on the contrary, it is part of the safety culture the law is built to encourage.
Frequently Asked Questions on Drone Regulations
Which definitions are decisive for drone flight?
Aerodrome, airport, heliport and their protection zones, where a restriction regime applies; also the concepts of commercial transportation, authorisation and declaration, which determine the legal form of the activity.
By which rules is drone flight governed?
The rules of registration, flight, operation, use and restrictions for unmanned aircraft are determined by a normative act of the agency. The law sets the frame, while the details live in administrative acts.
When is an occurrence an aviation accident?
When an occurrence connected with operation results in fatal or serious bodily injury, aircraft damage or structural failure requiring major repair, or the aircraft goes missing. Other influential occurrences are classified as incidents or serious incidents.
What is the purpose of investigating an occurrence?
Solely the prevention of future accidents and incidents — the establishment of blame or responsibility is not its purpose. Documenting an occurrence is therefore part of the safety culture.
How We Help on Legal.ge
Drone regulation combines terminology, administrative acts and the classification of occurrences. The Legal.ge team will place your position on this map: we will assess flight zones and restrictions, determine the authorisation or declaration you need, and plan the steps connected with occurrences. Contact us — your operations will remain inside the rules.