All Drone Laws In Jamaica For 2023 (Ultimate Guide)

1. The maximum height limit for the drone is 400ft (122m). The drone must not ascend past the limit.
2. The drown must not be flown beyond a distance of 500 m. 
3. The drone must be kept at a reasonable distance from crowded areas. It must be flown 152 m away from a large population of people
4. Do not fly over or within 165 feet (50 meters) of any person excluding the drone operator or during take-off and landing procedures.
5. The drone must be kept in a visual line of sight at all times during the flight. Stick to a visible line of sight, and avoid  using range-extending equipment such as FPV (First person view)
6. The drones must be flown in the daytime. Avoid night flying, when the visibility is poor.
7. The drones cannot be flown near airports or manned aircraft space. A drone must be kept at a distance of 16,500 meters from the airport.
8. The drones should be well equipped to handle all kinds of unforeseen conditions and uncertainties. Drones must have failsafe features to help them return from home when the signal is lost
9. Check with the hotel or accommodation you reside in to confirm availability.
10. You must make sure that the airspace is clear of all the obstructions, such as clouds, buildings, etc that can affect the visibility.
11.  A drone cannot drop or carry any heavy material.
12. The drone must be kept away from restricted areas.
13. It is necessary to seek a permit or authorization before flying your drone on public or private property.

Are there any classifications for drones in Jamaica?

According to the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) drones have been classified into two types based on their nature of operations:

1. Recreational UAV operators or Hobbyists drones.
2. Professional (Commericial or Non Commercial drones).

Recreational drones are model aircraft or UAVs which are flown only for fun purposes. Whereas, professional drones are the ones flown for business activities by people or the companies, such as aerial photography or research and surveys.

Laws for Recreational drones in Jamaica:

As such there are no specific rules, permits, or registrations required for operating recreational drones in Jamaica, apart from the general rules of flying a drone mentioned above. 

To fly a drone for recreational purposes, you must abide by the general rules and you are then good to go. 

Laws for Professional drones in Jamaica:

All drone operators who are willing to operate their drones in this category must obtain a permit from JCAA before their arrival. To apply, you can find the application details through this link. 

That permit will be used as your drone License and you’ll need it before every drone flight in Jamaica.

What is the Approval Process for flying a professional drone in Jamaica?

For approval, the operator must submit a written application mentioning the intent and other details of the operation. Usually, it takes a month for an application to get approved, due to the required approvals from specific airspace authorities. So it is advisable to plan your trip and make your arrangements while keeping the application approval timeline in mind.

Once the application is approved, it comes back to the operators along with the restrictions and conditions that might be applicable. The operator must follow all those rules and restrictions to avoid issues.

Is it necessary to get your drone insured before operating in Jamaica?

According to JCAA, drone insurance is not compulsory in Jamaica, but since Jamaica is a bit overpriced country, it is recommended and better to get your drone insured in case of any fines or accidents. It is always better to get yourself covered from that end.