Good news on flying drones in National Parks in Thailand

[John Gowland]

I would not fly a loud drone in public, go into the mountains where it is much more fun. You don't need attention.

 

[TheJauntingApe]

Hi Tom it's a difficult one because there are signs everywhere saying you can't fly but that's true of many national parks and it's outdated because you can now fly in National parks as long as you have a copy of your passport insurance for your drone and the two government communication officerses. National Broadcasting Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Most national parks have an office where you pay for entrance. This is the office where you can register your drone. So when you get there just ask. If there is a big "no" and you have reminded them of the Government change in 2023 saying you can fly in national parks, use some common sense. Just get to a place where no one can see you, get up high to survey your area and fly. You still have to adhere to common laws of flying ect not on occupied beaches or near airports, although there is no airport there. I see absolutely nothing wrong with flying in an area with no people no danger to life, property or local fauna. It's just silly. So fly Tom, but do let us all know how you found it. I am going to visit in the next few months.

Hi John, this is an interesting thread indeed. I have weeded through the internet many times in search of how to legally fly your drone inside national parks in Thailand. How to obtain authorization etc. This thread ranks high on google in those search terms. Now I have read this thread over and over, and unless Im missing something, Im getting the feeling that there may be some misinformation throughout. Something that may get readers in trouble with the law in Thailand. I hope I am wrong! But can you please back up your claims with at least one resource? There is no link to anything at all on the parks, and also the FEIC site does not say you can fly without the NBTC, it says you must obtain it within 30 days, not fly without until you obtain it. Sure you can fly without, but it is 100% taking a risk. However each time Ive entered Thailand with a drone I received my NBTC within 24 hours. So I dont see an issue. The national park thing is what I am trying to sort out now. And I dont believe it is legal without proper authorization from the department of National parks.

 

[Xi Zhou]

Thailand is awesome, but it pays to know people, or to know who to pay.

I was able to film whenever, wherever i wanted with my Air 3 due to a friends' connections higher up the food chain, who was highly interested in flying mine.

I cant wait to go back, this time with all our drones.

 

[RobertD]

So I'm about to visit Thailand for the first time in about 2 weeks. Previous trip canceled due to the pandemic.

After reading about the hoops you have to jump through, I wasn't going to bother trying to fly. In fact for that previous trip, I had gone partly through the application process but I hit a lot of snags IIRC.

I'm going to be in Thailand for 11 full days. The first 4 nights will be in Bangkok, where I won't even bother trying to fly.

The other 8 days or so will be split between Chiang Mai and Phuket.

One service that offers a package of insurance and registration with both CAAT and NBTC is quoting a price of 4214 THB.

Sounds like this FEIC will be around 3100 THB.

My question is whether it's worth doing for chances to fly around Chiang Mai and Phuket island.

I could never find a drone map showing zones where recreational drone flights would be permitted or outright banned.

So for instance, how far would I have to travel outside of Chiang Mai or Phuket to be able to fly? One complication for all this is that I don't know what kind of mobility I will have. For instance, I'd be happy to use Grab or Bolt but not sure how prevalent these ride share drivers are in these areas.

In Phuket, I heard that the taxi mafia will attack ride share drivers. So my mobility may be limited there. In Google Maps it looks like Cape Phrom Top, the very southern tip of the island, would be an interesting place to fly but I don't know if it's permitted. For one thing, it appears to be a popular place people go to for sunsets so it may be difficult to take off and land and avoid flying over people.

Plus, again I don't know how easy it would be to get there and then return to hotel in Old Town Phuket. Could I find a Grab driver or a taxi which wouldn't try to rip you off out there when trying to return?


The other part of my trip will be a few days in Singapore after Thailand. That would probably be the main reason I'd bother to pack my drone.

So the question is would it be worth it to pay these services or spend a part of my limited time in Bangkok to register in order to fly in the remaining week I would have between Chiang Mai and Phuket?

Would you drive without a driver's license, even for a short trip?? "Is it worth it" boils down to your willingness to pay a very steep fine. The penalty for flying an unregistered drone in Thailand can be up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to 100,000 baht. This applies to all drones with cameras, including those used for hobby purposes.

 

[wco81]

That's why I didn't try to fly.

 

[RobertD]

So I'm about to visit Thailand for the first time in about 2 weeks. Previous trip canceled due to the pandemic.

After reading about the hoops you have to jump through, I wasn't going to bother trying to fly. In fact for that previous trip, I had gone partly through the application process but I hit a lot of snags IIRC.

I'm going to be in Thailand for 11 full days. The first 4 nights will be in Bangkok, where I won't even bother trying to fly.

The other 8 days or so will be split between Chiang Mai and Phuket.

One service that offers a package of insurance and registration with both CAAT and NBTC is quoting a price of 4214 THB.

Sounds like this FEIC will be around 3100 THB.

My question is whether it's worth doing for chances to fly around Chiang Mai and Phuket island.

I could never find a drone map showing zones where recreational drone flights would be permitted or outright banned.

So for instance, how far would I have to travel outside of Chiang Mai or Phuket to be able to fly? One complication for all this is that I don't know what kind of mobility I will have. For instance, I'd be happy to use Grab or Bolt but not sure how prevalent these ride share drivers are in these areas.

In Phuket, I heard that the taxi mafia will attack ride share drivers. So my mobility may be limited there. In Google Maps it looks like Cape Phrom Top, the very southern tip of the island, would be an interesting place to fly but I don't know if it's permitted. For one thing, it appears to be a popular place people go to for sunsets so it may be difficult to take off and land and avoid flying over people.

Plus, again I don't know how easy it would be to get there and then return to hotel in Old Town Phuket. Could I find a Grab driver or a taxi which wouldn't try to rip you off out there when trying to return?


The other part of my trip will be a few days in Singapore after Thailand. That would probably be the main reason I'd bother to pack my drone.

So the question is would it be worth it to pay these services or spend a part of my limited time in Bangkok to register in order to fly in the remaining week I would have between Chiang Mai and Phuket?

The "worth" is based on the risks. The penalty for flying an unregistered drone in Thailand can be up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to 100,000 baht. This applies to all drones with cameras, including those used for hobby purposes. Spend a few 1,000 baht and be legal and safe.

 

[John Gowland]

In the "west" it would be silly to drive without a licence. Thailand is not the "west". I is a different world in so many ways. The cases of "the law" being applied are very rare, after 30 years of visiting and living here I have never heard of one. Just use your noggin.