Here is another precautionary tale for drone flyers in foreign countries. An Australian couple was arrested last July in Iran for flying a drone illegally. The main concern was that apparently the filming took place close to a military base.
Foreign Flying
The Australian duo were Vloggers on a multi—country trip from Australia to Britain. The trip was going well, until they hit a snag after taking a detour in Iran. The couple only received a pass this week – released after spending a few months in a foreign prison. While it may have a happy ending now, it may not seem like it while they were doing their sentence.
This does pose the necessity to remind drone owners where they can and cannot fly. It has to be a given that flying your drones in a foreign country may seem like a terrible idea. You need to establish what the rules are regarding drones in each country. You have to follow them, or face consequences.
Drone Regulations
There are a few basic drone rules that can apply to most countries. These include:
- No flying over 400 feet (to avoid getting in the way of aircrafts)
- No flying drones over crowded people (to prevent crash-related injuries)
- No flying inside buildings
- No flying at night
- Flying requires you to maintain a visual on your drone at all times
Some issues regarding where drones can and cannot go need mentioning. Drones cannot go near:
- Residential/private neighborhoods
- 3-5 kilometers of airports
- Military/government buildings
When it comes to public spaces like parks and tourist destinations, it is still worth noting that you should ask if you could fly a drone. This can save you a lot of hassle down the line. The verbal signoff (or written, if possible) can also be a great proof for you to have in case an incident goes down in the area.
