Taking Drones over seas.

[Davo23]

Hello and thank you for adding me.
I just need a little help understanding the registration process for taking a drone Internationally. We are in Australia,
and are heading to the Alaska and Canada in a few months, and I want to take the drone. It is a DJI and weighs 249 grams. Do I need to register the drone to or is it ok as it is light weight? It will only be used recreational. I would appreciate any help.
Kind regards
David.

 

[Cafguy]

Canada - Flying Tips - DJI

If you are traveling to Canada with a drone, check out this site. We've prepared detailed travel tips for how to use drones in Canada. Important local laws and airline regulations related to drone transportation and operation are included.

www.dji.com

Drones, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) | Transportation Security Administration

Drones are allowed through the checkpoint. Please check with your airline prior to traveling for their policy. Drones containing lithium batteries, fuel cells, and components of certain parachute systems may be prohibited in baggage. For more information, see the FAA regulations.

www.tsa.gov

United States - Flying Tips - DJI

If you are traveling to the US with a drone, check out this site. We've prepared detailed travel tips for how to use drones in the US. Important local laws and airline regulations related to drone transportation and operation are included.

www.dji.com

 

[Fun Flyer]

Davo23, Check out this link for flying your drone in Canada. Enjoy your vacation. Happy flying.

Flying your drone safely and legally

How to fly a drone legally and safely in Canada

tc.canada.ca

 

[mikey201]

You don't need to do anything. Just not allowed to fly in national parks

 

[Brojon]

You don't need to do anything. Just not allowed to fly in national parks

Not true. They are subject to FAA rules while in the US - one of which is to take the test and register.

 

[MARK (LI)]

This link has US requirements

https://www.faa.gov/uas/resources/foreign_operators#:~:text=All%20operators%20of%20foreign%20drones%20must%20follow,(NOI)%20to%20the%20FAA%20before%20you%20fly.

 

[mikey201]

Not true. They are subject to FAA rules while in the US - one of which is to take the test and register.

No one will literally say anything to you if you fly here

 

[MARK (LI)]

No one will literally say anyone to you if you fly here

What does that mean?

 

[thegoat]

What does that mean?

I suspect (because I'm not the one who said it) that it means that unless you do something dumb like fly into restricted airspace or try to fly from a national park, nobody is going to bother someone flying a drone, to try and make sure it's being done in compliance with FAA rules. I don't know if that's true or not, and advising people to ignore laws is generally a bad idea, but I think that's what was said.

My own take is that if you trace down from the link provided above far enough, you'll get to this: Federal Register :: Request Access which says that a drone flown recreationally in compliance with this: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg...itleVII-partA-subpartiii-chap448-sec44809.pdf and weighing under 250g doesn't need to be registered. The regs are very specific about citizenship and the like for most things, but they don't say anything about citizenship for that so it seems arguable that a tourist is covered as well. The the FAA has made this complicated by writing all of the rules using wording that covers all drones regardless of weight, and then carving out the sub-250g category in a corner of the regs.

If I didn't have anyone advising me, and I read all the regs, I would conclude that a tourist from Australia with a sub-250g drone would need to do the free TRUST training and fly in compliance with recreational rules, but would not need to register or do any of the other stuff that an owner of a heavier drone would need to do. I'm not saying that take is correct or is what others (who I assume have more knowledge) have concluded, but as someone who is not a lawyer but has some experience reading US laws, that would be my take. Which nobody else should take - use your own judgment or sources you trust, not strangers on a forum.

 

[rjwmorrell]

Hello and thank you for adding me.
I just need a little help understanding the registration process for taking a drone Internationally. We are in Australia,
and are heading to the Alaska and Canada in a few months, and I want to take the drone. It is a DJI and weighs 249 grams. Do I need to register the drone to or is it ok as it is light weight? It will only be used recreational. I would appreciate any help.
Kind regards
David.

You are ok for Canada. No registration or license is required for "microdrones" I.e. those 249g or less in take off weight.

I'm Canada, the intended use doesn't matter. You could be recreational or not, doesn't matter (though this isn't taking into account immigration rules for working I'm Canada).