🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all drone related law links & known rules about recreational & commercial drone use in Chile (Santiago). Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in the Chile 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 Chile
Chile does not seem to differentiate much commercial & recreational drone uses. Both are subject to some restrictions & a code of conduct. Additionally, depending on the weight of your drone & where you want to fly your drone, different rules will apply.
✅ In Chile, 2 law texts form the legal drone flying environment; DAN 151 & DAN 91. These were created & are controlled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) which are ein charge of drone laws in Chile & they can be contacted anytime via:
Email: dirdgac@dgac.cl
Phone: (+56) 2 2439 2000
Can I travel to Chile with my drone?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Chile 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 Chile?
✅ We did not find an official fly zone map for drones in Senegal "If you have more information about this, please share it in the Chile Drone Discussion Group". Thankfully in the meantime, app.airmap.io has listed all flight zones in a convenient way.
Chile Drone Fly Map
✅ Chile distinguishes 3 type of flight zones
urban zones (defined as settlement of people for housing or work purposes).
restricted zones = groups events & temporary restricted zones.
prohibited zones = for reasons of national security or military nature.
🚨 You should not fly above or near military installations & strategic infrastructure. Fly away from airports & any aerodromes or airports in the country.
🦅 National parks & reserves are on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities. According to this photo, it seems required for the Torres del Paine National Park for the least 🌲 Easter Islands is also under a strong environmental protection due to the island's unique fauna & flora. 🦎🐠🐟
💡 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 Chile.
Recreational & Commercial Drone use in Chile
✅ Good things first, you do not need to have a drone permit or a license to fly if you intend to stay outside urban areas & fly a drone weighting less than 750 g (& fly 50 m max above obstacles) in Chile.
Saying this, within the Chilean permitted zones, you will need to follow a few rules:
fly your drone at a maximum of 130 m altitude
fly your drone during daylight & always in sight.
have a third party insurance valid in Chile (with a Spanish translation).
fly your drone at least 30 m away from people (20 m vertically).
fly 2 km away from airports (1 km for aerodromes), heliports & give priority to all other categories of aircraft. If you see an aircraft during your flight, land immediately.
fly a drone equipped with a lighting system (to be more visible).
do not tow or launch any objects from your drone unless authorisation.
do not fly your drone over public, military, vital infrastructures.
do not fly near a natural disaster or somewhere emergencies will need to intervene
have a drone parachute for drones weighting 750 g+
🚨 For commercial flight or 750 g+ drones you wish to fly within urban areas, you will need:
a license to fly
to register your drone
ask authorisation systematically
How to obtain my drone license in Chile?
✅ First things first, you will need to be at least 18 years old to be able able to apply.
You will need to undertake a theoretical exam which includes questions from the DAN 151 (drone rules for flying in urban areas) & DAN 91 (drone air rules in Chile) codes. For more information around the exam & its organisation, you can email teoricosag@dgac.gob.cl
🏆 To succeed, you will need to score at least 75% good answers. Only then you will receive credentials which are valid for 1 year (to be re-validated each year). You can ask further information about your credentials by contacting:
Claudia: claraf@dgac.gob.cl (+56) 2 2439 21 63
Natalia: natalia.munoz@dgav.gob.cl (+56) 2 2439 28 39
✅ Always cc alviayuda@dgac.gob.cl
How to register my drone in Chile?
✅ To register your drone, you will need to contact joaquin.olivares@dgac.gob.cl (+56) 2 2439 21 63 & guillermo.diaz@dgac.gob.cl (+56) 2 2439 26 52. When sending your email, make sure to include this information within it:
your full drone details (brand, weight, serial number, etc).
any accessories or modifications from manufacturer's product
details around the autonomous flight function
a color photo of your drone (10*15 cm / jpg)
show a demonstration of your drone's parachute in action
Once the registration completed, you will have a registration number attributed (you need it on you while flying your drone) which is valid for 12 months and renewable after then.
💡 Smart! Heading to the coast? Water glare is a killer when flying above Chilean coastal waters, make sure you have a lens filter before heading there.
How to obtain a drone flight authorisation in Chile?
✅ Little reminder that you won't need such if you fly a drone of less than 750 g, for recreational purposes that you keep below 50 m above any obstacle & follow all flight rules.
For all other cases, you will need to explain why you need to fly there (& explain how it is of public interest) & contact:
Juan jhenriquez@dgac.gob.cl
✅ Always cc lhenriquez@dgac.gob.cl & mario.opazo@dgac.gob.cl
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Chile?
🚨 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. According to this article, you could face up to $36,000 fines.
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Chile's awesome landscapes & create videos like this one:
✅ Please leave a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Chile! Have fun & safe flight! #chile #chilean #regulation #rule #rules #law #laws #legislation
💡 You're a local, have a question or want to share a travel experience? Head to our Chile 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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Sources
DAN 151 (drone rules for flying in urban areas)
DAN 91 (drone air rules in Chile)
Other resources