182 Burundi
Divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below). Green symbolizes hope and optimism, white purity and peace, and red the blood shed in the struggle for independence. The three stars in the disk represent the three major ethnic groups: Hutu, Twa, Tutsi, as well as the three elements in the national motto: unity, work, progress.
Flag courtesy of the CIA World Factbook
Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook
Hippos at Kibira National Park in northwest Burundi
Government
According to Britannica, under the 2005 constitution, power is to be shared by the Hutu and the Tutsi. Executive power is vested in the president, who is ordinarily elected directly to a five-year term, renewable once. The president appoints the Council of Ministers. There is a bicameral legislature, with power exercised by the National Assembly, which is mandated to comprise 60 percent Hutu and 40 percent Tutsi, and by the Senate, which includes one Hutu and one Tutsi representative from each province, with three seats reserved for former presidents. In addition, three seats in each house are reserved for the Twa, and at least 30 percent of the seats in both houses are to be held by women. Members of both houses, most of whom are elected by universal suffrage, serve five-year terms.
Burundi is divided into 17 provinces, which are further divided into communes. Power at the local level rests in the hands of centrally appointed authorities.
Burundi’s legal system is based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law. The country’s highest court is the Supreme Court. Courts of appeal, administrative courts, a constitutional court, and tribunals of first instance, trade, and labour also exist in Burundi.
In 2005 the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution to create a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as a special court to prosecute war crimes and human rights violations.
Civil / National Aviation Authority (CAA/NAA)
Burundi Civil Aviation Authority
Airspace
SkyVector – Google Maps – ADS-B Exchange
ICAO countries publish an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). This document is divided into three parts: General (GEN), En Route (ENR) and Aerodromes (AD). ENR 1.4 details the types of airspace classes they chose to adopt from classes A through G.
Drone Regulations
In October 2019, the Burundi CAA published regulations for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems in French, with updates to related BURUNDI AERONAUTICAL REGULATIONS:
RAB 06.3 SYSTEMES D’AERONEFS TELEPILOTES (Version 2: Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems; the initial edition was May 2018).
It appears that VLOS only is allowed, however, an unofficial translation of Article 15. Detection and avoidance follows:
Any unmanned aircraft system to be operated beyond the line-of-sight flight must be equipped with a detection and avoidance system.
RPAS Regulations (related to ICAO Annex 2, etc.):
The following Civil Aviation Regulations (in French) include RPAS rules:
RAB 01 LICENCES DU PERSONNEL (Amendment 175: Personnel Licensing )
RAB 01.1 N°01.1 ORGANISMES DE FORMATION AGREES (Amendment #175: APPROVED TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS);
RAB 02: REGLES DE L’AIR
Amendment #46: Rules of the Air)
Civil Aviation Regulations ANNEXE RÈGLES DE L’AIR (RAF 02) 2016 in French, is published with APPENDICE 4. SYSTEMES D’AERONEFS TELEPILOTES [from page 64] ) linked by sub-part:
9 Aéronef télépiloté Un aéronef télépiloté sera exploité de manière à présenter le moins de danger possible pour les personnes, les biens ou d’autres aéronefs, et conformément aux conditions spécifiées dans l’appendice 4.
[9 A remotely piloted aircraft will be operated in such a way as to present the least possible danger to people, property or other aircraft, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Appendix 4.]
The regulations apply to international air navigations, i.e. operations by certified RPAS operating in controlled airspace as per conventionally piloted aircraft and covers three sections:
- General operating rules
- Certificates and Licenses
- Request for permission.
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
Short Essay Questions
Question 1
You have been hired by a Drone Startup Company. Your boss has immediately assigned this job to you.
They need you to prepare a one-page memo detailing the legalities of using a drone to film hippos in Kibira National Park, pictured above.
They need you to mention any national laws and local ordinances.
They specifically want to know what airspace you will be operating in and whether or not you need an airspace authorization.
Does it matter whether or not you are a citizen of the country?
Lastly, there is a bonus for you if, as you scroll through this chapter, you find any typos or broken links!
Question 2
Do you need a certificate to fly UAS?
If so, how do you obtain one?
Are there fees associated with this?
If so, how much?
Question 3
May you operate beyond visual line of sight?
If so, what procedures must you follow?
Question 4
Does the country have UAM/AAM laws? If so, describe, citing the exact law.
Question 5
Are you aware of any new laws or policies not mentioned above? If so, describe, citing the exact law or policy.
