In an interview with Tasnim on Monday, General Alireza Rabi’ee, a ranking commander at the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ Sarallah Base, said the decision to ban the personal use of quadcopters in Tehran’s sky has been made as part of plans to organize the employment of drones.
According to a recent order, the Sarallah base, which is tasked with ensuring the security of Tehran, forbids any unpermitted flight by personal quadcopters and drones, the commander added, saying a number of those aircraft have been even confiscated.
Such rotorcraft, most of which are equipped with cameras, have caused security, social and psychological concerns in the city, he added.
“Those quadcopters… can fly over sensitive, vital and major centers, record videos, and be misused by the enemy,” General Rabi’ee added.
The IRGC official explained that any permission for the use of such remote-controlled rotorcraft will be given only to groups, not individuals.
Three or four organizations can authorize the quadcopter flights, he explained, saying, for example, the groups engaged in cultural or sports activities can apply for permission to fly the remote-controlled rotorcraft via the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) or the Ministry of Sports.
In December 2016, Iran’s Air Defense shot down an unmanned aircraft in Tehran, saying the drone, which had entered Tehran’s airspace without coordination and permission, was shot down by the air defense forces in a central district of the capital.