Drone vs TSA

[gleavitt513]

Been thinking about this for a while now. About a year ago, took a trip to San Francisco, and thought about bringing my mini 3. I looked up what the restrictions for bringing a drone through tsa are, but couldnt find a solid answer, most answers said it depended on the airline. In the end i decided not to risk it. However, I am going to be taking a trip to canada soon this year by bus, and wondering what the restrictions might be for that, especially since im crossing a border. Also just wondering how tsa handles drones for future references.
Thanks.

 

[GFields]

Yes, you can bring a drone into Canada by bus and make an oral declaration to a border services officer. Since it is under 250g, you won't need to register it. However, it will need to be RID compliant.

 

[Chrislaf]

Yes, you can bring a drone into Canada by bus and make an oral declaration to a border services officer. Since it is under 250g, you won't need to register it. However, it will need to be RID compliant.

Drones in Canada do not have to be RID compliant as RID has not been implemented here yet. As long as you have not added anything to your Mini 3 you will not have to register it, get a pilot's licence or obtain a SFOC.

Chris

 

[MARK (LI)]

The drone itself should not be a problem, but how you are carrying the batteries could be an issue....you may need individual bags for them

 

[photoshop67]

I took my drone into Russia and flew is along the Volga. Didn't have the nerve to to fly over Red Square although I still dream of the cool video over the Kremlin and St. Basils. Just don't want to spend my remaining years waiting for a prisoner swap.

 

[Meta4]

I looked up what the restrictions for bringing a drone through tsa are, but couldnt find a solid answer, most answers said it depended on the airline. In the end i decided not to risk it.

People fly with their drones every day without any issues.
There are no restrictions on flying with a drone.
There are regulations on the lithium batteries, but that just amounts to the batteries must be in your carry on luggage and not in checked luggage.
This applies equally to all airlines.

However, I am going to be taking a trip to canada soon this year by bus, and wondering what the restrictions might be for that, especially since im crossing a border.

There will be no restrictions related to bus travel.

Also just wondering how tsa handles drones for future references.

As long as you have the batteries in your carry on, TSA won't be at all concerned.

The drone itself should not be a problem, but how you are carrying the batteries could be an issue....you may need individual bags for them

No airline or airline safety authority requires this.

 

[Cymruflyer]

I have travelled back home to the UK and Europe a number of times with my drone. Never had any problems. I do put a bit of tape over the battery terminals on each battery, although this is not required, just to be safer. Drones are seen so much now that they are as commonplace as seeing a DSLR camera body in a bag, by the x-ray machines.

 

[Nanny Ogg]

In 2022, I took my Autel Nano+ (under 250g) to Scotland via British Airways. The tsa clowns were more worried about my iPad Mini that I use with it than they were about the drone or it's batteries. They paid no attention to the drone.

 

[toucanf16]

I travel extensively for a living. Both domestically and internationally (to and from Asia). I probably take over 100 flights a year. I’ve never had an issue bringing my drone and batteries on board the airplane.

 

[JimSteadman]

Been thinking about this for a while now. About a year ago, took a trip to San Francisco, and thought about bringing my mini 3. I looked up what the restrictions for bringing a drone through tsa are, but couldnt find a solid answer, most answers said it depended on the airline. In the end i decided not to risk it. However, I am going to be taking a trip to canada soon this year by bus, and wondering what the restrictions might be for that, especially since im crossing a border. Also just wondering how tsa handles drones for future references.
Thanks.

Do NOT pack your drone in checked baggage. That might cause problems due to the batteries. I have found that the TSA does not even blink if you have a drone in your carry-on baggage. I have repeatedly taken drones aboard domestic and international flights. No interest by TSA = NADA. The most unusual thing that happened recently was when changing planes in Auckland NZ where my Nikon camera came under scrutiny by their equivalent of the TSA. Holding the camera as if it might explode at any moment, they carefully swabbed the outside of the camera - top, bottom and all the way around. Apparently it was safe to carry and they wished me a good day. But the drone [Mini 4 pro]- no excitement at all.

 

[gleavitt513]

Do NOT pack your drone in checked baggage. That might cause problems due to the batteries. I have found that the TSA does not even blink if you have a drone in your carry-on baggage. I have repeatedly taken drones aboard domestic and international flights. No interest by TSA = NADA. The most unusual thing that happened recently was when changing planes in Auckland NZ where my Nikon camera came under scrutiny by their equivalent of the TSA. Holding the camera as if it might explode at any moment, they carefully swabbed the outside of the camera - top, bottom and all the way around. Apparently it was safe to carry and they wished me a good day. But the drone [Mini 4 pro]- no excitement at all.

thanks, will keep in mind.

 

[tstr14]

Do NOT pack your drone in checked baggage. That might cause problems due to the batteries. I have found that the TSA does not even blink if you have a drone in your carry-on baggage. I have repeatedly taken drones aboard domestic and international flights. No interest by TSA = NADA. The most unusual thing that happened recently was when changing planes in Auckland NZ where my Nikon camera came under scrutiny by their equivalent of the TSA. Holding the camera as if it might explode at any moment, they carefully swabbed the outside of the camera - top, bottom and all the way around. Apparently it was safe to carry and they wished me a good day. But the drone [Mini 4 pro]- no excitement at all.

An alternative would be to back the drone in the checked bag but put the batteries in a carry on. My carry on is typically my computers and chargers, so a drone would result in a second carry on, something some airlines (and gestapo gate agents) frown on.

 

[dstuart]

An alternative would be to back the drone in the checked bag but put the batteries in a carry on. My carry on is typically my computers and chargers, so a drone would result in a second carry on, something some airlines (and gestapo gate agents) frown on.

I would never put my drone in checked bags. I have never had issues having my drone in my carry on. In fact the TSA was far more concerned about my camera than the drone, they never even glanced at it.

 

[gleavitt513]

Thanks everyone!

 

[rexster1505]

My first several trips to Mexico I had a checked in Case Club case that held my Phantom 4 Pro+ and controller. I had my batteries in my carryon luggage. Never had a problem with TSA, nor Mexican customs. Cumbersome to say the least.
Nowadays, I pack either my Mini 3 Pro or Potensic Atom 3 axis in their Fly More cases in my computer carryon luggage. Again, never a problem with TSA nor Mexican customs as of October 21, 2024.
TSA was more focused on my laptop than the drone.

 

[mavic3usa]

Not going to be possible for me to carry 3 drones on the aircraft with me. I'll have to pack 3 drones into checked "trunk" and keep only the batteries with me in my carry-on baggage. Drone (without battery) and controller and stuff in a hardcase will be fine.

 

[reig3]

I took my drone into Russia and flew is along the Volga. Didn't have the nerve to to fly over Red Square although I still dream of the cool video over the Kremlin and St. Basils. Just don't want to spend my remaining years waiting for a prisoner swap.

The police had me turn off my video camera when we were near the Kremlin. I complied

 

[JAW]

Gfield said , in Canada "....make an oral declaration to a border services officer. Since it is under 250g, you won't need to register it. However, it will need to be RID compliant."

Just wondering, how do you prove your drone is RID compliant. My older Mavic 2 Zoom has been "upgraded" to RID specs but what do I show to prove it?
(I'll be flying to Montreal this summer for a wedding.)

 

[Chrislaf]

Gfield said , in Canada "....make an oral declaration to a border services officer. Since it is under 250g, you won't need to register it. However, it will need to be RID compliant."

Just wondering, how do you prove your drone is RID compliant. My older Mavic 2 Zoom has been "upgraded" to RID specs but what do I show to prove it?
(I'll be flying to Montreal this summer for a wedding.)

There is no RID in Canada so you won’t have to prove anything with regard to RID. However, you will not be able to fly your Mavic 2 here legally unless you obtain a SFOC and get at least a basic pilots licence. Last I checked the SFOC are very difficult to get for a foreign tourist.

Chris

 

[Cymruflyer]

Plus the TSA probably have no idea what RID is anyway and are not concerned about such a thing.