What are the Drone Laws in Turkey?
Drone use in Turkey is quite prevalent and they have just a few laws. Weight plays great importance, and we'll see below why.
100m max height
Away from crowds
Keep off military facilities
Drone under 4kg
Yes, you can fly your drone for both recreational and commercial purposes in just about any part of Turkey. However, there are some rules and regulations imposed by the DGSAA that you will need to follow in order to stay safe and legal.
As of 2019, the estimated number of civilian drones over Turkish skies exceeded 34,000. The number of those with drone pilot licenses was over 52,000. The numbers were published in a Daily Sabah article.
The importance of drones and their influence in everyday Turkish life is a good sign for amateurs and professionals across Turkey.
Email: Training & registration & licensing ihalisans@shgm.gov.tr
Flight permits: ihaucusizni@shgm.gov.tr
Certificates & airworthiness: ihadestek@shgm.gov.tr
Phone: (+90) 0312 204 2000
Drone use in Turkey is quite prevalent and they have just a few laws. Weight plays great importance, and we'll see below why.
There are some rules and regulations for the operation of drones in almost every country of the world. However, there are a few special things that you need to know about the operation of drones in Turkey.
You will need to follow all the rules and regulations mentioned above whether you are flying your drone for commercial applications or just for the sake of fun. However, the thing is, there are some drones that you can't bring to Turkey without submitting a letter of application to the customs office.
Apart from that, drones under 4 Kg that fly with a speed of less than 50 Km/h are not regulated and you can fly them in open areas for fun without any license or permit.
According to the Directorate of Civil Aviation in Turkey, anyone planning on bringing a drone to the country must make an application of technical conformity. So as to qualify for submission it must be in accordance with the SHT-IHA Instruction.
As a foreigner seek prior approval otherwise the drone will be confiscated. However, Foreign citizens can't register themselves as drone pilot in Turkey.
Citizens of Foreign nationality cannot register themselves as drone pilots in Turkey. Moreover, their drones will be seized by the customs unless and until they have received a technical confirmation from the DGCA.
In order to apply for the technical confirmation, you can use form-366 which is found on the Turkish DGCA's website. In addition, you will need to submit your criminal record from your Embassy too!
However, if you are a Turkish citizen with no foreign nationality then you will need to apply directly for the technical compliance certificate. the application form for the certificate can be found here.
After passing the drone through customs, it will be added to the general directorate UAV registry system. You will become eligible to fly your drone within the Turkish airspace without any issue.
Yes, you need to register your drone with the Directorate of Civil Aviation if your drone weighs more than 4 Kg or if you want to fly for commercial activities. The registration process is quite simple and can be done online on their website.
You will need to mention your name, address, email address, phone number, and other relevant information on the application form. After that, you will be given a UIN or a Unique Identification Number. This number will be used for all of your future correspondence with the Directorate.
The UIN is a must for every drone operator in Turkey. You will need to mention this number on every flight plan that you submit to the authorities. If you are caught flying without a UIN, then you can be subject to a fine of up to TL 25,000.
Commercial drones have a different registration process. Have a look here:
The following are the important documents that you will need to have when flying a drone in Turkish airspace:
No, for now, it is not possible for foreigners to register a drone in Turkey. Only Turkish citizens are allowed to do that.
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The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI's official map.
They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:
These would be the current updated drone laws for Turkey. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.
If you are going to visit Turkey, make sure you’ve learned all the dos and don’ts of flying drones in this region. This will help you have a safe journey and enjoy flying your drone without getting yourself into trouble.
Also, keep in mind that, commercial and recreational drones are treated differently in most countries therefore you will need to prepare yourself accordingly. Last but not least, always follow rules and regulations and make sure to respect the laws of every country.
