Traveling with a quadcopter: how do you avoid getting fined?

At all trips one wants to take back not only souvenirs, but also pictures and videos. After all, they can be used to document the most successful and unforgettable moments of rest or presence at a significant and interesting place. Now we have the opportunity to change the angle of the picture and take the viewpoint to a bird’s-eye view.

This mission is performed by quadcopter for travel (aka drone, drone), which can be purchased even on the Internet. Usually you buy models with a built-in camera for aerial photography, which provides high quality video. Today we’ll tell you where you can launch it, and what you can do about travelling around the world with it.

For those in the tank, a quadcopter is an aircraft with four rotors (quadcopter means helicopter with four propellers). In the center there is a platform which houses the control unit, battery compartment and camera (optional).

Airport security and drone-in-hand luggage

Airport security officials treat drones in carry-on luggage differently:

- Some don’t care.
- May ask to remove and tear open the case to make sure there are no explosives.

Some people just don’t care.

Somebody has just never seen one and wants to know what it is.

However, the drone will be allowed through, because it’s not against the law. However, each airline has already formed its own set of rules that contain a set of restrictions. It has become generally accepted that the number of batteries should not exceed three per person, and their capacity can not be more than 100 Wh.

Countries that prohibit or restrict drone use

The only place you could be instantly arrested and imprisoned for using a drone is North Korea. However, many countries restrict the use of quadcopters. To find out exactly in which countries quadcopters are banned, you should consult the World Wide Web. For example, go to the Google search engine and type the query: “country name” law about drone.

Thailand

Drones in Thailand are strictly controlled. If its takeoff weight is less than 2 kg, you just need to get a permit to fly, and heavier units must also be registered with the Ministry of Transport. Their operator cannot be younger than 20 years old. The document specifies the weight of the aircraft, dimensions and flight range. A single stay in the air can not exceed one hour. In the absence of a document, launching a drone is punishable by a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or excursion to Thai prison for up to 5 years.

The drone can fly at an altitude of no less than 15 meters and no more than 150 meters, according to the rules. The minimum defines the boundary of citizens’ rights to privacy, and the maximum does not allow disruption of commercial aviation, whose routes in Thailand start from 300 meters.

The drone can be flown at an altitude of no less than 150 meters.

No quadcopter launches in Thailand over hospitals, military installations and areas protected by the state security service.

For those not intimidated by such restrictions, here are a couple of tips on how to behave in Thailand’s airports when carrying a drone:

- It’s better if your drone shows signs of long use. Otherwise, you may have to pay import duty at Thai customs.
- Don’t play the cool cameraman. You may be turned in to the competent services, and they will ask uncomfortable questions.

Cube

Drones cannot be used on Liberty Island. They are purposely searched for in carry-on luggage. You can be sure they will find them. After that, you will go through a lengthy clearance process. Be sure to write down the serial number of the aircraft, describe every scratch on it, as well as everything that came with it, including batteries. The quadcopter is confiscated and stored in a separate box until the day the vacation ends. The first three days are free, and after – about 1 peso per day. When you leave Cuba, don’t forget to pick up your detainee.

USA

In this country, it is strictly forbidden to take aerial panoramas in national parks. In the largest of them – Yellowstone – even flights are prohibited, and there are posters everywhere warning about it. If you violate it, your drone will be confiscated immediately, and the bonus is a hefty fine. It’s hard to say whether a quadcopter can be launched in the city. If any resident decides and proves that it violates their personal space, the outcome will be similar.

Italy

Italian Themis prohibits the use of any drones in crowded places. Even if they are used for non-commercial photography and their weight is less than 25 kg. And also in the vicinity of important objects – airports and railway stations, military bases, power plants. The radius of the no-fly zone around airports is eight kilometers.

At least 150 meters from the city limits, an aircraft can be safely launched. The area must be open and clearly visible. You have to have full control of the drone and not let it fly within 50 meters of people. The same applies to private property. If the filming is for commercial purposes, you have to buy a license.

Drone photography is not allowed.

Shooting without Extreme – it’s possible! Quadcopters in relatively loyal countries can be easily launched in any uninhabited area, away from populated areas – the beach, the mountains, wooded meadows. A country road in straight, clearly visible areas will do, as well as a boat in the middle of a lake.

Basic rules not to break abroad

If you’re taking a drone on a trip, try to follow some simple rules common to all countries where drones are more or less tolerated:

Limit the flight altitude. For example, a drone in Thailand can go up to 150 meters. Stop at 120.
Do not fly at dusk, fog or at night.
Please pay attention to the forbidding posters.
Do not descend over herds of animals – wild or domestic, whatever.
Avoid flying over private property.
Stay away from nuclear power plants, airports, military bases and other strategic locations.

If you can’t, but you really want to…

If you see the forbidding full signs, it’s best not to take any chances. And if breaking the rules might happen, but it’s doubtful you’ll get caught doing it, stick to the following rules:

- Do not draw attention to yourself. Arrive at the starting point with a pre-calibrated drone. Take off quickly at 30 meters and shift away from it.
- The launch pad should not be visible from the object you want to shoot.
- The drone should be stealthily operated by hiding in the car or behind an open door.

Don’t procrastinate about packing the drone. Leave as soon as it is in the trunk. You have no more than five minutes for the entire operation.

What places to avoid

Don’t even try to take off in crowded places. Drone propellers are like knives, they can cause injury. The drone itself can scare or distract, causing a person to trip or get hit by a car. Even a light machine can cripple unsuspecting citizens if it falls from a height. In Europe, this is a criminal offense.

Elevated urban development is not a place to fly. For one thing, it’s saturated with emitters of electromagnetic waves – cellular carriers, special services. Your control signal may interfere with their work, but it’s more likely to go out. Secondly, there are many areas where the radio waves fade out completely. The drone has a mode to return home if it loses contact with the base. It always flies in a straight line, the shortest trajectory. It may encounter an obstacle along the way. It’s half the trouble if it crashes on its own. It is worse if shards of glass or advertising banners fall on passers-by.

Consider the interests of those you’re shooting

How would you feel if an aircraft of unknown origin hovered over you? Would you like to be filmed in the most intimate of situations? Always ask yourself these questions when you launch a drone. And don’t be surprised if the means of home air defense – a stick, a can, or even a shotgun loaded with buckshot – turn out to be quite effective. Even if your quadcopter accidentally filmed private scenes, delete those files. And never publish them on the Internet.