Drone legislation for recreational use

So, you might be thinking of getting a drone, or are already planning your trip with your drone to shoot some amazing images. But first, you''ll have to fly to your location. When taking your drone on an airplane, there are a couple of things you'll have to think about. 

1 | Packing your drone

When packing your drone, there are two important things to think about to ensure the safety of your drown as well as the people on the plane. 

• Turn off the drone and protect the switches from being activated. 
• Carry the drone in a carrying case, to protect it from damage (this is not necessary, but helps to increase the lifetime of your drone). 
• Consider getting a fireproof bag for your drone's batteries (such as these: https://www.amazon.com/Fireproof-Battery-Mavic-Phantom-Storage/dp/B0714FJ45Y/ref=sr_1_13?crid=2JM0RTK4XJGU2&keywords=fireproof+battery+bag&qid=1564387088&s=gateway&sprefix=fireproof+battery%2Caps%2C215&sr=8-13). 

2| Check out the official guidelines (FAA or similar authorities) for dangerous goods not allowed on the airplane

To make sure you can bring the items you want on board, and to check what the exact rules are for lithium batteries it is important to check the official guidelines and regulations for dangerous goods. You can check these at the FAA for the US (https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/), the TCCA  for Canada (https://travel.gc.ca/air) or EASA for Europe (https://www.easa.europa.eu/easa-and-you/passengers/dangerous-goods) for example. 

For other countries, find the civil aviation authorities to check their rules.

3| Check out the airline regulations

It is not only the country regulations that count. Airline regulations might sometimes be more strict. Make sure to check the airline regulations on hazardous goods and bringing lithium batteries to make sure you can bring your items in checked in or carry-on luggage. 

4| Print out the regulations

Too avoid conflicts and long discussions, print out the regulations for both the airline policy and the airport/country regulations. 

5| Carry-on or check-in luggage

Drones are fragile and expensive equipment. It's definitely worth putting it in your carry-on luggage to avoid damage or it becoming stolen, if it fits in the overhead compartment. Packing it in your check-in luggage is also fine, but make sure to store it safely in a good, hard case. Furthermore, note that the spare batteries must always be stored in your carry-on. 

Another thing that makes it a lot easier to carry your drown, is to put it in a separate case with all the other drown equipment such as the spare batteries. Several people have mentioned getting into trouble when taking out the drone of their bag, showing it to security, who often don't know the exact rules and ending up having long discussions. Avoid this by putting your drown equipment in a separate case. Try to stay under the radar, be inconspicuous. 

The rules for carry-on are usually easier to follow and therefore it provides less of a hasle. The following rules are similar for EASA, TCCA and FAA. When packing LIPO batteries, they always have to be in your carry-on luggage, unless the battery is in your device. Furthermore, it is important to know the watt hours (Wh) of your batteries. To calculate the Wh, you can multiply the battery voltage by the Amp hours (Ah). The rules regarding Wh and lithium batteries are the following: 

• The spare batteries have to be individually packed to protect short circuits for example through
  • insulating the terminals with tape
  • putting each battery in a plastic bag
  • using another appropriate way
  • Note, this is not always necessary, depending on the batteries. But is does avoid unnecessary issues. 
• The batteries do not exceed a Wh of 100? No problem. 
• If the Wh is between 100 and 160, you have to get approval from the airline to carry the item. Don't pack more than two of these batteries. 
• Batteries of over 160 Wh are not allowed. 

Also, always check your batteries for any damage. If they are damaged, don't bring them on the plane. 

For the US, at the TSA website you can find regulations on what you an and can't pack in your luggage, and the FAA provides information on lithium batteries. 

6| Going through customs

There are quite some horror stories on the internet about drones being confiscated at customs. The people at customs will ask you questions, maybe even swap your drone for bommaking material or make you turn it on. Don't worry, this is quite standard, as long as you stay friendly this will make your trip a lot easier. 

Make sure to check the country's drone laws. Some country's are really strict on drone laws, or don't even allow drones. However, in many countries shooting for personal use is usually okay, for commercial use it's a different story, and you might need to get clearance. Another useful source for getting familiar with the country's customs are youtube videos or forums about experiences there. 

So in short: 

• Pack your drone securely
• Check the country's aviation regulations (for dangerous goods and lithium batteries)
• Check the airline regulations
• Print them out
• Pack your drone, carry-on or check-in, and your extra batteries in your carry-on (under 100 Wh, or max 2 between 100-160 Wh if approved by airline)
• Check the country's drown laws

The Netherlands is known for its many rules and regulations. Therefore, if you're travelling with a drone it's good to prepare a bit before using it here. While the police is friendly and you might get away with a warning, it's better not too take the risk of your drone being confiscated. 

The Dutch government has a page about drone regulations on their website. It's best to check the latest regulations there, since they might change once in a while. But for now, here are the most important things: 

• "A private drone must not weigh more than 25kg (including cargo). 
• There are places where you are not allowed to fly a drone, such as over crowds or built-up areas or in the vicinity of airports and other no-fly zones. 
• You must always keep the drone in view.
• You are not permitted to fly higher than 120 metres, either above the ground or over water.
• You are not permitted to fly in the dark.
• You must always yield to other aircraft, such as aeroplanes, helicopters and gliders. This means that you must land immediately if you see an aircraft approaching. You should also stay away from accident scenes, since a drone can get in the way of emergency and police helicopters.
• You can use your drone to take aerial photographs for personal use. This is considered ‘recreational use’. However, you are not allowed to violate other people’s privacy. For example, you are not permitted to secretly film someone. If you want to film or photograph a person, you must first get their permission."

The extended version, with all the rules (regeling modelvliegen) can be found here: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0019147/2019-04-01. Unfortunately, this page is not in English. You can perhaps ask a friend to translate it, or post anything that needs translating below. 

If you're in the money business with your drone, more rules apply. In that case, check out this page: https://www.government.nl/topics/drone/rules-pertaining-to-the-commercial-use-of-drones