November 6, 2025

MUMBAI: The Indian Aeromodellers Association (IAMA) has raised a big red flag about the draft civil drone (promotion and regulation) bill, 2025. They told the Ministry of Civil Aviation that if this law passes as it is, it could kill the fun and learning behind aeromodelling, a hobby enjoyed in India for over 100 years! In a detailed letter sent last month, IAMA pointed out a major problem – the draft bill treats aeromodelling and drones the same way. But wait, aren't they very different? Absolutely! Drones are used mainly for business, industry, or spying, while aeromodelling is a playful and educational activity that has "inspired generations of pilots, aircraft engineers, and aviation professionals," the association said. The current draft of the Drone Bill is very strict. It demands things like registration, licenses, type certification, and flight permissions for even small, hand-flown model aircraft. IAMA argues this is a bad idea because these models are safe and pose very little risk to anyone. Here's the catch: The bill says no one can fly or own any unmanned aircraft without registration and a unique ID number. Break this rule and you could face fines up to Rs 1 lakh or even a year in jail. Worse, if you accidentally break restricted airspace rules, it could lead to three years in prison or a hefty fine! According to IAMA, this harsh punishment is just not fair for hobbyists. "Aeromodelling is a low-risk, high learning activity...," the letter states. Almost all aeromodellers build and fly their own model airplanes, not the usual multi-rotor drones you see buzzing around. Since these models are handmade and not sold by companies, registering them under the bill would be a nightmare. IAMA is asking the government for clear exemptions and recognition of educational and recreational model aircraft. They want aeromodelling placed back under the educational and sports category like it was before 2021. This would keep this colourful tradition alive for clubs, schools, and thousands of enthusiasts everywhere. Will the ministry listen and save this century-old joy of aeromodelling from a strict drone crackdown? Time will tell!

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Tags: Aeromodelling, Drone Bill 2025, Iama, Civil Aviation Ministry, Regulations, Hobby Clubs,