đ In this blog post weâll share all drone law links & known regulation about recreational & commercial drone use in Antarctica. Give a đ at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Can I fly my drone over Antarctica?
"Antarctica is regarded as the last great wilderness on our planet, still pristine with wildlife and landscapes that show little evidence of direct human activity"
We're very happy to be able to write a post about Antarctica drone rules. This is not the only continent post we will ever write about this topic but also the only one about a 14 million km² world reserve & sanctuary đ.
đ¨ A few years ago, with the rise of tourism in this region, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) united to ban recreational drone use without permit in Antarctica via this note. The temporary ban is set on a yearly basis and reviewed in May to allow potential technological advances & further regulation.
Note that this does not concern private or non IAATO cruises however you should contact your relevant authority or government agency to get more info on what you should do/not.
How to obtain a permit to fly my drone over Antarctica?
You may however obtain a permit which is delivered under strict conditions only & to be approved via your IIATO cruise operator who will submit for you your application to the competent authority & if your motivations are fair, you should be granted a permit (aka no recreational use permit will be delivered).
đ In any case, if you wish to use a drone in Antartica, you should get in touch asap to get things going as this is not a usual process & permission might take some time to come.
To us, this decision makes sense & for three main reasons:
Local wildlife: being so remote, most animals never encountered any human activities before; exposing them to a noisy flying engine might scare them for good đ§đł
Potential pollution: let's face it, we've all had a crash here or there.. & well, we don't really see you jumping into the frozen sea 𤧠to get your drone back. Not to mention that the average temperature is â10°C which will make it tough for a drone to fly â
Other passengers: you've probably paid for a trip of a lifetime but them too! & frankly seeing a drone hovering over your head whilst being the furthest possible from mankind should have most against you at this point in time đŹ
â The excellent news is that all this is set to preserve an amazing & fragile unique ecosystem & we sincerely hope it will stay this way. Now if you have a chance to get there & fly for research purposes or within an agreed scheme, you might be lucky enough to see the below video with your own eyes... & if you've read until here its that you're seriously planning the trip of your life & we want your feedback & experience - Take care!
Drones are a fast evolving technology & we hope that the above rules explained helped you narrow your thoughts for the perfect travel companion đ
You will find all you need to travel with a drone here. Always consider the long term use & what is your travel style as you're what matters most after all! đ§
â Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Antarctica!
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone regulations.