First, we will take a look at general rules for drones in Indonesia which covers all categories of drones. After that, we will go further into details about recreational and commercial ones.
General Rules for Drones in Indonesia
- The maximum allowed flight height for drones without a permit is 150 meters. Those who want to exceed this limit will need to get a permit.
- The drone must be flying within a line of sight range
- You don't need to buy aviation liability insurance for your drone
- The maximum take-off weight of the drone should not exceed 7 KG
- You should fly your drone only in uncontrolled airspace and far away from the runways (at least 15 KM)
- You should avoid flying your drone directly above a crowd of people
- If you are flying your drone in a restricted region with the camera then it needs to maintain a distance of 500 meters.
- You shouldn't fly your drone at night or in bad weather conditions when there is low visibility
- You can't operate your drone from a moving vehicle on road. However, you are allowed to control it from a vessel.
Recreational Drone Laws in Indonesia
Here are some specific laws for recreational drones:
- You can't fly your drone above 150 meters from the ground
- You should fly your drone away from moving vehicles, animals, or people
- Your drone shouldn't exceed a maximum weight of 2 KG
- You must be 18 years old to fly your drone
- You can't fly your drone from a moving vehicle
- You should maintain flight visibility of around 4.8 Km and keep it at a safe distance from airports
- You should only fly your drone during the daytime when there is a good visibility
- You should control only one drone at a time
- You must obtain a permit if you wish to fly beyond the specified limits
Commercial Drone Laws in Indonesia
In order to fly your drone for commercial applications, you will need to follow all of the above rules. However, there are a few additional things that you will need to keep in mind before taking off.
To fly your drone for commercial applications, here are some of the main things to keep in mind!
- an authorization from the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
- an insurance policy that covers your commercial activities
Penalties
If you fail to follow the rules and regulations specified by the government of Indonesia you will face some penalties. These penalties can be in the form of fines, jail time, or both. Each fine will depend on the severity of your offense.
The most common penalties for flying drones in Indonesia are as follows:
- Flying in a restricted area without prior permission: Up to IDR 1 billion (approx. USD 72,000)
- Flying in a prohibited area: Up to IDR 5 billion (approx. USD 360,000)
- Causing damage to people or property: Up to IDR 10 billion (approx. USD 720,000)
Where can I fly my drone in Indonesia?
Knowing where to fly your drone is the most important thing, no matter which country you are in. Here is a list of some places where you can't fly your drone without any issues:
- Government aviation designated areas
- 15 Km from an airport or runway - higher than 150 m altitude
- Controlled airspaces
To fly a drone weighing between 2 and 25 Kg, you must be 18 years of age.