🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all law links & known rules about recreational & commercial drone use in Cape Verde (Praia). Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in the Cape Verde Drone Discussion Group. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Recreational vs Commercial drone use in Cape Verde
Cape Verde does not seem to differentiate much commercial & recreational drone uses. Both uses are subject to restrictions & a strict code of conduct. Additionally, depending on the weight of your drone, different rules may apply.
✅ In Cape Verde, drone regulation falls under the Civil Aviation Authority & can be contacted anytime via:
Email: info@acivil.gov.cv
Phone: +238 260 3430
Can I bring my drone to Cape Verde?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Cape Verde (Praia, Sal & Boa Vista airports) as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
💡 Smart! Get your drone batteries' firecase today and make sure you're complying with aviation safety rules.
Where can I fly my drone in Cape Verde?
✅ We did not find an official fly zone map for drones in Cape Verde "If you have more information about this, please share it in the Cape Verde Drone Discussion Group". Thankfully in the meantime, app.airmap.io has listed all flight zones in a convenient way organised in a 3 colour legend.
Cape Verde Drone Fly Map
🌲 National / Marine parks & reserves might be on a case by case permission & you will need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities.
🚨 The entire islands of Praia, Mindelo & Porto Novo are under restricted airspace control which means you will an authorisation prior taking off there.
💡 Smart! Pack some spare drone batteries, you never know how close is the next power plug overseas. Also make sure you have a travel adaptor for Cape Verde.
Recreational & Commercial Drone use in Cape Verde
✅ Good news first, you won't need to obtain a permission or license if you intend to fly with the below guidelines:
fly your drone without creating any hazard to anyone or anything else
fly at a maximum of 120 m altitude, during daytime & always within sight.
fly at least 50 m away from property, crowds, individuals & respect privacy rights.
fly your drone with its lights on at all times.
it is recommended to fly with an insurance covering all risks.
fly at least 2 km away from airports or heliports & give priority to all other categories of aircraft & if you see n aircraft during your flight, land immediately.
How to obtain my permission to fly outside guidelines in Cape Verde?
🚨 You should obtain this permission if you intend to take off the islands of Praia, Mindelo or Porte Novo.
🚨 The process is not completely clear to us today as when downloading the link for drones specifically, this one was not working. In either case, you will need to register your drone y contacting the Civil Aviation Authority of Cap Verde.
✅ You will need to complete this form ("It is not a pdf, but a doc, after downloading, rename the document and open it with Word"). Alternatively, we've read online that some pilots can use the aviation form (in Portuguese), for more information:
Email: info@acivil.gov.cv
Phone: +238 260 3430
🕔 Complete and send the form at least 10 working days prior your intended flight (we recommend as soon as possible).
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Cape Verde?
The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such.
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Cape Verde's awesome landscapes and create videos like this one:
✅ Please leave a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Cape Verde! Have fun and safe flight! #cape #verde #capeverde #regulation #law
💡 You're a local, have a question or want to share a travel experience? Head to our Cape Verde Drone Discussion Group
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 rules and regulations.
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Other Resources
Permission to fly a drone in Cape Verde (note that download wasn't working when we tried).
Source