Can You Bring a Drone to The Philippines?
Drones are great fun and many expats want to know if it’s okay to bring a drone to The Philippines. Yes, it is perfectly legal to bring a drone to the Philippines. I had a great pocket drone and didn’t have any problem at all getting it through the airport security. I didn’t try to hide it in any way. It was in my backpack carry on, in fact. That being said it was just a pocket drone so maybe it just didn’t get noticed.
Related: How to Stay in The Philippines Permanently.
One blog said you needed to put it in a lipo bag but I couldn’t find any source for that and I think it’s just more likely to get you noticed and arouse suspicion. Drone use is legal in The Philippines and is regulated by the Philippine Civil Aviation Authority. They have issued guidelines applicable to most recreational drone operators in the country.
- Only fly during the day and in good weather.
- You must keep it away from kids, the elderly, and pregnant women
- Do not let the drone outside of your visual line of sight.
- Do not fly over populated areas, such as schools or marketplaces.
- Do not fly higher than 400 feet above ground level.
- Do not closer than 30 meters (98 feet) from persons not involved with the drone’s operation.
- Do not fly closer than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from airports.
- Do not fly near emergencies, such as fires.
Does The Philippines Require a UAV Certificate?
If your drone is larger than 7 kilos (15 pounds) then you do need to get UAV certificate.
11.11.1.3 UAV AREAS OF OPERATION
(a) No person may operate UAV beyond the following envelope unless prior approval has been granted by the Authority:
(1) 400ft Above Ground Level (AGL);
(2) 10 km radius from the Aerodrome Reference Point (ARP); and
(b) The UAV shall stay clear of populated area unless prior approval has been granted by the Authority.
(c) No person may operate a large and small UAV in a controlled airspace unless a prior certificate of Waiver is issued by the Authority.
Such requirements are based on imminent safety and security concerns which this Authority is mandated to protect
Requirements for a UAV Certificate in The Philippines
In English the requirements are straightforward. You have to complete a training course, pass a written exam, and pass a flight demonstration.
11.1.1.5 APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION (a) An operator applying to the Authority for a certificate of authorization shall submit an application: (1) In a form and manner prescribed by the Authority; and (2) Containing any information the Authority requires the applicant to submit. (b) Each applicant shall make the application for an initial issue of a certificate of authorization at least 90 days before the date of intended operation.
11.1.1.6 ISSUANCE OR DENIAL OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION (a) The Authority may issue a certificate of authorization if, after investigation, the Authority finds that the applicant:
(1) Is a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines,
(2) Has its principle place of business and its registered office, if any, located in Republic of the Philippines;
(3) Meets the applicable regulations and standards for the holder of a certificate of authorization;
(4) Is properly and adequately equipped for safe operations in aerial work and maintenance of the aircraft; and
(b) The Authority may deny application for a certificate of authorization if the Authority finds that: (1) The applicant is not properly or adequately equipped or is not able to conduct safe aerial work operations;
(2) The applicant previously held a certificate of authorization which was revoked; or
(3) An individual that contributed to the circumstances causing the revocation process of a certificate of authorization obtains a substantial ownership or is employed in a position required by this regulation. (c) The issue of a certificate of authorization by the Authority shall be dependent upon the operator demonstrating an adequate organization, method of control and supervision of flight operations, training program as well as ground handling and maintenance arrangements consistent with the nature and extent of the operations specified.
(d) The continued validity of a certificate of authorization shall depend upon the operator maintaining the requirements of paragraph (c) above under the supervision of the Authority
CAAP
My Experience Flying a Drone in The Philippines
My first experience flying in drone in The Philippines was with my pocket drone. I tried flying it from my balcony but the battery died. It landed on the road in front of my apartment where it was quickly crushed by an SUV. 🙁
Related: 7 Best Places to Live in Luzon
The second time I got a much better drone that was still affordable and had better battery life, like this one from amazon.com. If you’re already in The Philippines you can get a similar one from Shoppee or SM. It’s been so much fun to fly!
I’ve never experienced any legal problems or problems with the authorities at all flying my drone in The Philippines. If you live in a densely populated area in Manila your experience may be different than mine. The worst part of flying a drone is the neighborhood children asking to play with it and them crashing it. But that’s no big deal. I enjoy watching kids have fun.
What’s the Best Drone to Bring to The Philippines?
The best drone to bring to The Philippines depends on a number of factors from your operating skill level to your budget. For the average person, I wouldn’t spend more than US$50 on a drone. The reason being is most likely you will crash it a couple of times, theft is an issue in The Philippines, it may get beat up during transport to The Philippines, and if you try to bring it still in the box you could be charged a duty upon arrival. I use this drone and it’s the perfect fit for my needs.
Best Places to Fly a Drone in Manila
Seeing as this is a website for people in or going to Manila I figured you’d want to know where are some of the best places to fly a drone in Manila. It’s not that easy to find suitable areas to fly a drone in the world’s most densely populated city.
Firstly you need to be outside 7km radius of an airport. Secondly, you need to be 150 meters away from any building and you can’t fly it for more than 30 minutes. If you intend to fly a drone for commercial use, you will need to go see each building administration that might be featured in a photoshoot for written permission.
But not to worry there are some good places you can go to!
The Heritage Park in Taguig City
Lots of wide-open spaces in a safe area near BGC this park is the perfect spot for a picnic or flying your drone. Word of caution it’s closed on Sundays.
Pinaglabanan Park in San Juan
The Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine was built to commemorate the heroism of the Katipuneros who started the nationwide revolution in San Juan del Monte. The local freedom fighters known as Katipuneros lay siege to an arms storage facility, called the ‘Polvorin de Almacen’, belonging to the Spanish Colonial Government. Lots of wide-open space.