General Rules

1 General Rules
The air traffic rules and procedures applicable to air traffic within the territory of the Republic of Maldives conform to Annexes 2 and 11 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and to those portions of the Procedures for Air Navigation Services - Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Services applicable to aircraft, and of the Regional Supplementary Procedures applicable to MID/ASIA Region, except for the differences, in any, listed in GEN. 1.7.
2 Minimum safe height
Aircraft shall not be flown below the minimum safe height except when necessary for take-off and landing. The minimum safe height is the height at which neither an unnecessary noise disturbance nor unnecessary hazards to persons and property in the event of an emergency landing are to be feared; however, over cities, other densely populated areas and assemblies of persons, this height shall be at least 300 m, (1 000 ft) above the highest obstacle within a radius of 600 m, and elsewhere at least 150 m (500 ft) above ground or water. Gliders and balloons may be operated below a height of 150 m if necessary for the kind of operation and if danger to persons and property is not to be feared. Aircraft shall not be flown below buildings and structures nor below overhead lines and antennas. For flights conducted for special purposes, the local aeronautical authority may grant exemptions.
3 Dropping of objects
The dropping or spraying of objects or other substances out of or from aircraft is prohibited. This does not apply to ballast in the form of water or fine sand, fuel, tow ropes, tow banners and similar objects if dropped or discharged at places where no danger to persons or property exists. The local aeronautical authority may grant exemptions to the interdiction if no danger to persons or property exists.
The dropping of mail is controlled by the Maldives Posts Limited, in agreement with the aeronautical authority.
4 Acrobatic flying
Acrobatic flights are only permitted during day time and with the explicit consent of all persons on board. Acrobatic flights are prohibited at heights of less than 1000 m (3000 ft), or any obstacle thereon, within a radius of 600 m (1800 ft) of a line extending vertically below the aircraft as well as over cities, towns, populous areas, regattas, race meetings and/or meetings for public games and/or sports. The local aeronautical authority may grant exemptions in individual cases. Acrobatic flights conducted in the vicinity of aerodromes without an ATS unit require special permission in addition to the Air Traffic Control clearance.
5 Towing and advertising flights
Advertising flights with towed objects does not require permission from the local aeronautical authority if the certificate of airworthiness issued or rendered valid in respect of the aircraft concerned under the law of the country in which the aircraft is registered includes an express provision that it may be used for that purpose.
The above applies to the towing of objects for other than advertising purposes and does not apply to aerial work of rotor craft.
Advertising flights, where advertising consists only of inscriptions on the aircraft do not require permission. Flights for advertising with acoustical means are prohibited.
6 Times and units of measurement
Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the prescribed units of measurement shall be applied to flight operations. The Director General of Civil Aviation will establish the units of measurement to be used and they will be published in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
7 Airspace structure
For the performance of the flight information service and the alerting service, the Director General of Civil Aviation establishes the flight information region which is published in the AIP. Within the flight information region, the Director General of Civil Aviation establishes the controlled and uncontrolled airspace according to the extent of the air traffic services maintained there, on the basis of the classification described in subsection ENR 1.4. Within controlled airspace, VFR flights may be prohibited completely or partly by the air traffic services with regard to limitations due to current meteorological conditions, of space and time if urgently required by the degree of intensity of air traffic subject to air traffic control.
8 Prohibited areas and flight restrictions
The Director General of Civil Aviation establishes prohibited and restricted areas, if necessary, for the prevention of danger to public safety or order, especially for the safety of air traffic.
9 Cloud flights with gliders
Cloud flights with gliders may be permitted by the air traffic services if the safety of air traffic can be maintained by appropriate measures. Conditions may be attached to the permission.
10 Take-offs and landings of aeroplanes, rotorcraft, airships, powered gliders, gliders and parachutists outside aerodromes admitted for them
For take-offs and landings of aeroplanes, rotocraft and airships at/or outside designated aerodromes, permission from the local aeronautical authority is required. This is to be applied analogously to landings of parachutists outside designated aerodromes.
The Civil Aviation Department will require applicants to produce evidence of the consent of the terrain owner or of other entitled parties prior to granting permission.
11Ascents of balloons, kites, self propelled flying models and flying bodies
The ascent of a manned free balloon outside an aerodrome admitted for balloon ascents requires permission from the local aeronautical authority.
The ascent of captive balloons and/or kites is permitted only with the consent of the local aeronautical authority. Balloon and/or kite ascents at heights of more than 60 m (180 ft) above the ground level and/or within 60 m (180 ft) of any vessel, vehicle and/or structure as well as within a radius of 5 km (2.7 NM) of an aerodrome is prohibited. Furthermore, a balloon exceeding 2 m (6 ft) in any linear dimension at any stage of its flight, including any basket or other equipment attached to the balloon, shall not be flown in controlled airspace.

17 DEC 09
AIRAC AIP AMDT 1/09