Bringing a drone 249g into Nepal

[echen2323]

has anyone had issues with this recently that can comment on it? i will be flying my mini pro 4 into KTM airport and wanting to know the process. i have contact CAAN with no response, frustrated! i have read previous posts of people having no problem getting into the airport without pre-registering or anything like that. not sure if this is still up to date! dont want to get the drone confiscated!

ill mostly be in the Kathmandu area, and maybe Nagarkot. if drones arent allowed in these areas, then i wont fly it, thanks!

 

[waynorth]

Here is what Perplexity has to say:

"The restrictions for flying drones in Kathmandu, Nepal, include the following guidelines:
Restricted Areas: Drone operations are not permitted within five kilometers of the airport, near military barracks, and highly sensitive areas
.
Flight Rules:
Drones must only be flown during the daytime with good visibility.
Do not fly drones further than 500 meters (1,640 feet).
Do not fly drones over or within 150 meters (492 feet) of any congested area.
Do not fly drones over or within 150 meters (492 feet) of an organized open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons.
Do not fly within 50 meters (164 feet) of any vessel, vehicle, or structure
.
Authorization:
For drones weighing more than 2 kilograms (4.5 pounds) that fly 400 feet or more above ground level, prior authorization from the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is required.
Drones weighing less than 2 kilograms do not require authorization from CAAN if flown on private property and under 200 feet"

I can also add that drones are prohibited in the national parks and conservation areas, unless you have a special permission. This includes many of the popular trekking routes.

 

[waynorth]

ill mostly be in the Kathmandu area, and maybe Nagarkot. if drones arent allowed in these areas, then i wont fly it, thanks!

Nagarkot is more than 5 km away from the Kathmandu airport, so should be legal to fly there unless there are special restrictions. Ask the tourist office in Kathmandu.

 

[waynorth]

And here is some updated information: Drone Rules in Nepal | Updated Blog for 2024 | Footprint Adventure

 

[echen2323]

yea i have read all that too but there always seems to be doubletalk/contradictions.

on one hand, i do read this...i have a 249g drone, which suggests no authorization or permit needed?

Authorization:
For drones weighing more than 2 kilograms (4.5 pounds) that fly 400 feet or more above ground level, prior authorization from the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is required.
Drones weighing less than 2 kilograms do not require authorization from CAAN if flown on private property and under 200 feet"

then i read later on...

According to current legislation, registration with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) is mandatory for all drone categories to obtain a flying license.

so which is it?

 

[Seangm]

.

 

[Seangm]

Yes, which is it. Seems like no one knows here on this forum. I plan on bringing but confused on requirements. Anyone really know?

 

[waynorth]

Yes, which is it. Seems like no one knows here on this forum. I plan on bringing but confused on requirements. Anyone really know?

The only place you can get a definite and correct answer, is from the Civil Aviation Authorities of Nepal, and they are not on this forum.
I suggest you contact them and ask what the current regulations for drones in Nepal are. https://caanepal.gov.np

 

[Felix le Chat]

And here is some updated information: Drone Rules in Nepal | Updated Blog for 2024 | Footprint Adventure

Being a bone-deep cynic: what this reads like to me is.... Pay the municipality for a letter. Pay the District Officer for a letter. Pay the local police chief for a letter. Pay the CAAN for the permit... then repeat the above steps for every single location you might want to fly in.

 

[Seangm]

Good info. Thanks all.

 

[Clipper707]

Not sure how helpful (or stale) this information is, but I brought a Mini into Nepal in December 2019. We were visa-on-arrival and the passport control and customs were unorganized and took over an hour. Nobody was checking bags.

There's a cafe at the Monkey Temple and I was given permission to fly from the roof there. With my drone airborne, a couple of guys in plain clothes came up and demanded I stop flying. They then started strongly reprimanding the guy who gave me permission. I packed up quickly and got out of there.

I flew again that afternoon from a nearby rooftop cafe that was not at a temple.

 

[dakshukhadka]

has anyone had issues with this recently that can comment on it? i will be flying my mini pro 4 into KTM airport and wanting to know the process. i have contact CAAN with no response, frustrated! i have read previous posts of people having no problem getting into the airport without pre-registering or anything like that. not sure if this is still up to date! dont want to get the drone confiscated!

ill mostly be in the Kathmandu area, and maybe Nagarkot. if drones arent allowed in these areas, then i wont fly it, thanks!

Hey, what was the outcome? Did they stop you and demand a permit or did they let you go through. I planning to bring the exact same drone but am scared as it is a company drone and don’t want anything happening to it.

 

[Clipper707]

Hey, what was the outcome? Did they stop you and demand a permit or did they let you go through. I planning to bring the exact same drone but am scared as it is a company drone and don’t want anything happening to it.

We didn't stick around long enough to find out. I landed the drone and got out of there. The guy who took us to the rooftop was one of those touts trying to earn a buck. He saw my girl and I doing selfies and offered to take our pic for a dollar.

I told him I'd give him $5 if he could show me a good place to launch my drone from. When the other guys were yelling at him, I was packing the drone into its case and getting out of there. Dude caught up to us and asked for another $5 for getting yelled at. In hindsight, I probably should have given him another $5, but I just wanted to be as quickly far away as possible.