Drone Laws in Togo

Last updated on August 16th, 2023 at 05:53 pm

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Togolese Republic

Drone regulator in Togo: Agence Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ANAC) du Togo

Link to Togo Drone Laws: Togo Drone Regulations

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UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Togo

The Togo agency responsible for drone safety, ANAC, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying for fun or work in Togo. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details go to the link above.

Are drones allowed in Togo?

Drone operations are allowed in Togo for recreation and commercial use if granted permission and under strict regulations administered by ANAC. Read on for more details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Togo:

The conditions for the issuance of the provisional authorization to operate drones cover four (04) aspects:

• Approval of the Minister responsible for Transport (MTRAF);
• Provisional special authorization for the operational part, issued by the ANAC;
• Authorization for the use and implementation of civilian drones on overflight/landing, defense, and national security aspects, issued by the Ministry of the Armed Forces;
• Specific authorization issued by the ministry concerned with the operational activity of the drone operator (for example, the Ministry of Health for the conditions of transport of blood, vaccines, and medicines).

Approval of the Minister responsible for Transport (MTRAF)

There are 2 cases:

• In the case of one-off activities with a cumulative total duration of 12 months or less: the Minister’s application for and grant of approval is not applicable in this case;
• Case of one-off activities with a cumulative total duration of more than 12 months: the drone operator must apply for approval from the Minister responsible for Civil Aviation with a copy to the ANAC. The list of documents to be provided is given by the Air Transport Directorate (DTA) of ANAC. It includes, in particular, the legal status of the entity, the business plan, and the operating cost.

Provisional special authorization for the operational part

It is issued per Article 8 of the Chicago Convention and the relevant provisions of the Aviation Code Act. It is subdivided into three (03) phases and will last, on average, one (01) month (for information purposes).

Phase 1: Contact and formal request

Contact: During this phase, the drone operator (UAS) contacts the ANAC to inquire about obtaining the special operational authorization drone. He will also obtain the list of documents to be provided and the form to be completed (form ANAC-TOGO/DCSV/FORM 025) as part of this process. Meeting and/or teleconference sessions are organized during this phase to discuss relevant topics/themes relating to the authorization process.

At the end of discussions/work sessions, and depending on the case and extent of the operator’s request, the ANAC may set up a special authorization team to conduct the process.

Official request: The operator will then send an official request to the ANAC specifying the type of operation, the geographical area, and the desired duration of the drone authorization (UAS). This request must specify whether the operator will transport-specific products (For example, dangerous products). In this case, the operator must also make a specific request for the transport of this product (Example: Application for the transport of dangerous products that ICAO regulates).

The UAS operator must submit to the ANAC for study and review a list of documents, including:

• The ANAC-TOGO/DCSV/FORM 025 form, filled in (allowing to provide operator information; drone identification and registration; drone technical specifications and performance; missions and activities; telepilot information; etc.) ;
• Manuals and programs, where applicable (manual/operations procedure for the organization of the drone operator and the preparation, monitoring, and management of flights; maintenance manual; training program; procedures for the transport of dangerous goods; SMS manual adapted to the size and complexity of the organization; procedure in the event of a breakdown of the C2 link / total or partial loss of ATC/ communication; Other emergency procedures 😉
• Complete safety risk analysis file (in flight and on the ground);
• Coordination and interface document with ATC;
• Presentation of security measures: physical safety of the remote pilot, the safety of the ground drone, cybersecurity, and security of the C2 link. The DSF ANAC may request additional measures;
• The mechanism for notifying security events related to the operation of drones;
• Commitment to respect the rules of security, safety, privacy, etc.

The ANAC also ensures that the air navigation service provider has the necessary procedures and documents:

• Procedures in the event of total or partial loss of ATC communication/unauthorized intrusion into a controlled space or with special status; other 😉 emergency procedures
• Complete safety risk analysis file;
• Letter of agreement and interface document with the drone operator;
• The mechanism for notifying security events related to drone air traffic control.

Phase 2: Evaluation and Inspection

 Document evaluation: The ANAC evaluates the various documents and returns to the drone operator on the observations/findings from the literature studies. The drone operator must take into account the return of the ANAC and correct the documents before the process progresses to the next step.

Inspection: The operator conducts test flights under the supervision of the ANAC to verify, on the one hand, whether the established procedures are functional and, on the other hand, to check the suitability of telepilots. The ANAC approves the associated manuals, procedures, and documents when the result is satisfactory.

Phase 3: Issuance of special authorization and ongoing monitoring

The ANAC issues the operator special authorization for drone operations. This authorization may include, where appropriate, operational limitations/restrictions.

ANAC is implementing a surveillance program for the drone operator to ensure that he always complies with the conditions for issuing his authorization. This program is based on compliance criteria and operational security risk management.

The drone operator will provide a periodic activity report to ANAC.

Authorization to use civil drones

The authorization for the use and use of civilian drones issued by the Ministry in charge of Defence covers two (02) points:

• The import agreement (different from the OTR’s import procedures) for the entry of the drone into Togolese territory;
• Authorization to fly over/land on national territory.

Specific authorization issued by the ministry concerned by the operational activity of the drone operator

This authorization is granted by the ministry or entity in charge of the drone operator’s field of activity (Example: Ministry of Health in the context of transporting vaccine, blood, or medicine). It also concerns ARCEP’s agreement or approval for using a dedicated frequency band or band.

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Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Togo

See the general rules above.

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Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Togo

See the general rules above.

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Useful published information on flying drones in Togo

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Togo…

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NOTE: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.

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Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.

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