Istanbul Airport

[MikeCollinge]

Does anyone have any experience transiting Istanbul Airport with a drone?

I will be going through Istanbul on my way to Kazakhstan in July, but I have a long layover with a self transfer which means I will need to collect my luggage, go through customs (technically entering Turkey) and check it in for my onwards flight.

Does anyone know if I will have any problems.

 

[Cafguy]

That's a tricky one. Honestly I would NOT even do it. You need to submit paperwork-IN ADVANCE- before you enter Istanbul! this is whats called a Technical conformation sheet.
To apply for technical confirmation, use Form-336 found on the Turkish DGCA website,You may actually have to submit a form detailing your criminal history to enter Turkey with a Drone!! Depending on you country of origin. My advice to you would be to contact the Turkish Consulate online or by phone.

 

[MikeCollinge]

Thanks. Good to know. That sounds like it's more hassle than it's worth. If my luggage was checked all the way through and I was just transiting, it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[Dale D]

Does anyone have any experience transiting Istanbul Airport with a drone?

I will be going through Istanbul on my way to Kazakhstan in July, but I have a long layover with a self transfer which means I will need to collect my luggage, go through customs (technically entering Turkey) and check it in for my onwards flight.

Does anyone know if I will have any problems.

Last year in July,2024, I transited Istanbul airport with the Mavic 3. I was on a 6 person photography and drone workshop in Kyrgyszstan with Justin Black and Visionary Wild Tours. We stayed overnight in the old city(Four Seasons Hotel) , and used that stay as a layover to travel onward to Kyrgyszstan. I had absolutely no problems getting the camera bag through the scanner, either on entry or exit. We returned from Kyrgyszstan to Istanbul, stayed overnight, and left for Miami the next morning. NO problems eith4er direction. Hope this helps. DO NOT fly in Istanbul without proper paperwork. Istanbul jails are not nice.

If you want to see the Kyrgyszstan, video, request by e-mail. [email protected]

Dale

 

[MikeCollinge]

Thanks Dale, really appreciate it. I have heard that other people have had no problem as well. But it always pays to make sure. Sounds like as long it remains in your luggage, no problem. The whole point of the Kazakhstan trip is drone photography, so it would kind of ruin the trip if I lost it.

 

[Clipper707]

I've been through Istanbul 4 times from 2022 to 2024, always using the trips as a chance to visit this interesting city on my way home to/from other destination. I exited and entered the airport on all of those trips, always carrying a Mini 3 Pro and sometimes a Mavic 2 and Neo in addition to the Mini. No airport issues whatsoever.

The Turkish authorities were more interested in the Costco vitamins I was taking to family in another country.

As for operating drones, Turkish laws apply to drones weighing more than 500 grams. Both my Mini and Neo have a little bit of air time over Istanbul.

 

[Unconnected]

One more experience: I was on Istanbul Airport in Juni 2023 as a layover to Georgië with my Mavic 2 Pro in my carry on backpack. No problem whatsoever! Did not even check it before I went there to be honest, because our flight was re-routed to that airport. Must say that the most problems I always have with this drone is at Amsterdam Airport. I always need to remove the batteries from my backpack there haha