The Venezuelan agency responsible for drone safety, INAC, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying a drone for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details go to the link above.
Are drones allowed in Venezuela?
According to INAC, drones are allowed in Venezuela, subject to INAC regulations. Read on for more details.
Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Venezuela:
Venezuela divides remotely piloted aircraft into different classes according to weight:
Class 1 Mini RPA: less than 3 kilograms
Class 2 RPA Ligeros: between 3 and 25 kilograms
Class 3 RPA Livianos: between 25 and 150 kilograms
Class 4 RPA Pesado: more than 150 kilograms
This classification does not differentiate between private and commercial use.
Licensing Requirements for Flying a Drone in Venezuela
Venezuela has several categories of licenses for drone operations. Here are the basic requirements for obtaining a license to operate a drone in Venezuela:
Applicants must be Venezuelans or nationals of countries that grant reciprocal rights to Venezuelans.
Spanish is a language that must be spoken, read, and written.
Possess a valid Aeronautical Medical Certificate for the type of license held.
To operate class 1 drones, a pilot must be at least 13 years old, possess a valid license, and have a medical certificate.
In Venezuela, drones must be registered. This appears to be accomplished through the use of this online platform. Additionally, a registration form includes a list of additional required documents.
Registration
Before flying in the national airspace, all RPAs must be registered with the National Aviation Registry (âRANâ).
Registration marks will be granted to only those classified as Class 3 or 4. All other classes will receive a Registration Proof Certificate.
Venezuela Drone registration Form for National Aerospace
Airworthiness
To fly in the national airspace, RPAs classified as Class 4 must obtain a Certificate of Airworthiness from the CAA.
RPAs classified as Class 2 and 3 do not. Rather than that, they must obtain a Certificate of Conformity with Airworthy Condition certifying that the RPA is safe to fly.
For Class 1 RPAs, no proof of airworthiness is required. Still, the operator must submit a Declaration of Safe Operation and Conformity with Original Design to the CAA if the RPA is used in commercial operations.
Safety distances and flight bans
Airports should be kept at a distance of 9 kilometers. Class 1 and Class 2 RPAs can fly up to 400 feet in altitude.
You can fly only during daylight hours. The pilot must maintain a line of sight with their drone. If it is class 1 (less than 3 kilograms in weight), it may fly up to 500 meters.
A distance of 1.8 kilometers should be maintained between the presidentâs residence, domestic and foreign authorities, basic industry facilities and companies (iron, steel, electricity, petrochemicals), and military, police, and prison facilities.
Operations
All operations must be conducted during daylight hours and in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions.
You must avoid flying over populated areas and private property to photograph or film without the ownerâs permission.
RPAs classified as Class 1 or Class 2 are limited to a maximum altitude of 400 feet (122 meters) from the point of take-off and must remain within 500 meters (700 meters) of visual line of sight (VLOS). These restrictions do not apply to RPAS classified as Class 3 or Class 4, as the manufacturerâs manual will determine their performance.
No drone may be operated within five nautical miles or 9 kilometers of any airport or within a 1.8-kilometer radius of the following: (1) the President of the State; (2) any military or police station; (3) any prison; or (4) any oil and mineral-processing companies classified as âstrategic industries.â