Vacationing with MA2

[RMundy806]

I am fairly new to flying. My wife and I are headed to Mexico for a vacation. We will be staying in an all inclusive resort and don't plan to leave the grounds. Is it okay to get some beach and water footage? Are the any special conditions to flying with my drone. I would pack in my carry-on. TIA for answers

 

[Platinum 4 ever]

I am fairly new to flying. My wife and I are headed to Mexico for a vacation. We will be staying in an all inclusive resort and don't plan to leave the grounds. Is it okay to get some beach and water footage? Are the any special conditions to flying with my drone. I would pack in my carry-on. TIA for answers

Not familiar with the laws in NM. But I don’t think that they will give ya too much grief.

 

[BikerBuster]

If it's Mexico and not NM, then i would scour their government or tourist board website.
Alternatively you could contact the resort.
I have always found the resorts to be best informed and most helpful.
Or, you could just go for it, sometimes it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

 

[Ken no Barbie]

If it's Mexico and not NM, then i would scour their government or tourist board website.
Alternatively you could contact the resort.
I have always found the resorts to be best informed and most helpful.
Or, you could just go for it, sometimes it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

Not in Mexico it isn’t

 

[Ron Caballero CAP]

I am fairly new to flying. My wife and I are headed to Mexico for a vacation. We will be staying in an all inclusive resort and don't plan to leave the grounds. Is it okay to get some beach and water footage? Are the any special conditions to flying with my drone. I would pack in my carry-on. TIA for answers

Check with your Resort. They should know the Mexican rules or tell you where to go to get them. The resort may even have their own rules.

 

[BradG]

I am fairly new to flying. My wife and I are headed to Mexico for a vacation. We will be staying in an all inclusive resort and don't plan to leave the grounds. Is it okay to get some beach and water footage? Are the any special conditions to flying with my drone. I would pack in my carry-on. TIA for answers

I would most definitely check with the resort, especially if you don’t plan to leave the grounds.

 

[RobertR]

Drone Laws in Mexico | UAV Coach (2023)

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

uavcoach.com

 

[Oldmanoftheworld]

One thing to mind is customs, in Manila for instance it’s best to apply for a customs waiver or they can try and charge import duty. Have had the same also in Taiwan and South Korea. This was not with a Drone but a BMC and a few lights, not saying you will have this problem but just be aware, customs can also ask for refundable deposit or bond that’s returned when you leave with the goods.

 

[Ron Caballero CAP]

One thing to mind is customs, in Manila for instance it’s best to apply for a customs waiver or they can try and charge import duty. Have had the same also in Taiwan and South Korea. This was not with a Drone but a BMC and a few lights, not saying you will have this problem but just be aware, customs can also ask for refundable deposit or bond that’s returned when you leave with the goods.

GREAT advice. I had not thought about that.

 

[Electromen]

Call the Resort now. Check with the airlines about carrying Lithium Ion Batteries

 

[Ron Caballero CAP]

Call the Resort now. Check with the airlines about carrying Lithium Ion Batteries

For taking lithium batteries on an aircraft, you need special lithium battery bags. Check with Amazon.

 

[RoarRoar]

For taking lithium batteries on an aircraft, you need special lithium battery bags. Check with Amazon.

No you don’t. I travel regularly (once a month) with a drone or two and several batteries. I know some people recommend putting electrical tape over the battery terminals.

 

[Electromen]

I think most airlines will not permit the batteries in checked luggage.

 

[BikerBuster]

I think most airlines will not permit the batteries in checked luggage.

Correct, lithium batteries may be carried, in hand luggage only. Some airlines may insist on the "firesafe" type pouches.

First time I travelled with mine, I emailed the airline and got an answer, then printed it and i take it with me, each time I fly.
The security staff at Glasgow can get a bit bombastic at times, so I had my email, just in case.
It proved worthwhile as once the security chap raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't think you can be carrying these" to which I presented my email with a flourish and he was fine.
I honestly think he was inexperienced and overcautious as he looked about 12 years old.

 

[InvisibleName]

Correct, lithium batteries may be carried, in hand luggage only. Some airlines may insist on the "firesafe" type pouches.

First time I travelled with mine, I emailed the airline and got an answer, then printed it and i take it with me, each time I fly.
The security staff at Glasgow can get a bit bombastic at times, so I had my email, just in case.
It proved worthwhile as once the security chap raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't think you can be carrying these" to which I presented my email with a flourish and he was fine.
I honestly think he was inexperienced and overcautious as he looked about 12 years old.

At my age, they ALL look about 12!

 

[BikerBuster]

[emoji1787]

 

[Ron Caballero CAP]

No you don’t. I travel regularly (once a month) with a drone or two and several batteries. I know some people recommend putting electrical tape over the battery terminals.

Even ir the airline does not require it, safety is primary. You are not allowed to put batteries of any sort in checked luggage. What would you do if one of your batteries caught fire in you carry=on luggage?

 

[colorado kid]

No you don’t. I travel regularly (once a month) with a drone or two and several batteries. I know some people recommend putting electrical tape over the battery terminals.

what do you mean 'electrical tape over battery terminals?' and you are traveling overseas, mostly, or domestic? i bought my drone recently for the sole purpose of traveling and making videos, while on vacation...once corona is no longer a concern, that is. thanks!

 

[Thomas B]

I am fairly new to flying. My wife and I are headed to Mexico for a vacation. We will be staying in an all inclusive resort and don't plan to leave the grounds. Is it okay to get some beach and water footage? Are the any special conditions to flying with my drone. I would pack in my carry-on. TIA for answers

Only Mexican citizens can obtain approval for drone flights. But checkout the link in post #7.... don’t hold your breath though.

 

[BingErr]

"All drones weighing over 250 grams (.55 pounds) must be registered with the DGCA. Registration requires an official ID proving Mexican citizenship, therefore prohibiting registration by foreign persons. Learn more about registering your drone in Mexico here."

I'd invest in the Mavic Mini for Mexico. It's the only way to fly legal. Everything over 250 grams must be registered and you have to be a Mexico citizen to do that.

That said, I did fly last year with the Mavic Air (before the Mini was out) but only because our resort was about 6 miles out of the city and there were no other resorts on either side of us. Just empty beaches and trees. I would walk down the beach until we were out of the resort and there were no people in sight before I flew every day. I also carried cash on me just in case law enforcement stopped me so I could just pay the fine (bribe them) if they gave me grief. But I had no problems... but like I said, there was literally nothing on both sides of our resort. I probably wouldn't take the risk of flying a drone that weighs more than 250grams if I was near downtown Cancun or any other large tourist city.

Here's a link to my vids. I posted them here last year.

5 Video Travel log of our Cancun Honeymoon. Mavic Air, Osmo Pocket, GoPro 7

Spent 6 days in Cancun and made 5 videos of our time there. Flew the Mavic Air everyday except the last 1/2 day. Used the Osmo Pocket quite a bit for panning timelapse at the pool and the beach. It was a great time and I'm getting faster at editing my footage down everyday for a daily upload.

mavicpilots.com