India and Australia...any experience here?

[Thekidd76]

I've done some googling and find lots of conflicting info on what I need to do to travel with my drone. Hoping someone here has some first hand experience with it. I'll be traveling to Mumbai, then Chennai, and from there to Sydney. I don't want to break any laws and definitely don't want my drone confiscated. Anyone have any experience?

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

Australia is easy, drones are all legit to own, carry, etc . . . drone can be in cabin or checked baggage, all batteries in cabin, I just put them in separate small ziplock bags to isolate terminals from each other.
If flying Emirates you may (will) have to put drone into checked hold bag.

Licensing isn't in yet in Oz, so you should be right just following CASA regs to fly . . .

Know Your Drone

droneflyer.gov.au

Download the 'Can I Fly There' app, and check this before going to fly places in advance (remote and no internet = it doesn't work).

 

[Thekidd76]

That's basically what I saw for Australia also. My main concern at this point is India since that's my first stop.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

India did have a full drone ban a while back (couple of years), but think I read it was lifted recently, probably realised there would be an impact on some tourism numbers, albeit small.

You googled India drone regulations ?
I get these . . .

Drone Laws in India | UAV Coach (2023)

Want to learn more about drone laws in India? Check out our list of links and regulations for people flying drones in India.

uavcoach.com

India's new drone regulations have a major caveat keeping pilots grounded

Last week, India introduced new regulations governing the use of drones.That's great, but there's one hitch that might keep drones grounded for a bit.

thenextweb.com

India’s new drone policy is shortsighted. Here’s why

Of privacy, unethical activities and artificial intelligence.

qz.com

Drone flying in India: Everything that you want to know

Flying drones will be legal from December 1 with the government unveiling Drone Regulations 1.0 that allow for line-of-sight drone operations. The rules will allow people to register their drones and fly them on a per-flight permit system. The drone operators must also have special permits. Here...

www.indiatoday.in

Funny enough no results from their GOVCO easily found.
These should give you a start and see what else you can find.

 

[Simmo]

 

[Thekidd76]

India did have a full drone ban a while back (couple of years), but think I read it was lifted recently, probably realised there would be an impact on some tourism numbers, albeit small.

You googled India drone regulations ?
I get these . . .

Drone Laws in India | UAV Coach (2023)

Want to learn more about drone laws in India? Check out our list of links and regulations for people flying drones in India.

uavcoach.com

India's new drone regulations have a major caveat keeping pilots grounded

Last week, India introduced new regulations governing the use of drones.That's great, but there's one hitch that might keep drones grounded for a bit.

thenextweb.com

India’s new drone policy is shortsighted. Here’s why

Of privacy, unethical activities and artificial intelligence.

qz.com

Drone flying in India: Everything that you want to know

Flying drones will be legal from December 1 with the government unveiling Drone Regulations 1.0 that allow for line-of-sight drone operations. The rules will allow people to register their drones and fly them on a per-flight permit system. The drone operators must also have special permits. Here...

www.indiatoday.in

Funny enough no results from their GOVCO easily found.
These should give you a start and see what else you can find.

Yes I've seen all these. Was hoping someone had some first-hand experience recently with traveling to India from the states with the drone and getting through customs. Was looking for any positive or negative experiences before making the call on whether or not to take it. Thanks for the help though.

 

[Thekidd76]

So the short answer with India was I would have been better off not taking it. They gave me grief over it coming into Mumbai, leaving Mumbai to Chennai, and then arriving in Chennai. Ultimately I got to take it with me, but they were saying I shouldn't have it, should have filed paperwork before entering, owed a tax, etc. None of which I could really find any info on beforehand. Australia was no issue.