How Do I Register My Drone In Singapore

The usage of drones (also known as an Unmanned Aircraft (UA)) for leisurely activities, such as aeriform photography, has been increasing in Singapore in the by few years.

However, the surge of such activity has unfortunately resulted in many unauthorised intrusions of drones into restricted airspaces which jeopardises the prophylactic and security of travellers flight in and out of Singapore.

This article highlights to readers (and in particular, drone enthusiasts) on the steps required to register and operate their drones in Singapore while hovering within the law. The post-obit infographic provides a quick summary of these:

(Click on the prototype to download it in a new tab.)

Registering Your Drones

You are required to register your drone with the Civil Aviation Dominance of Singapore (CAAS) if the drone weighs over 250 grams and you intend to fly the drone in and over Singapore.

To be eligible to annals a drone, you must:

Be at least 16 years of age (If you are not, the drone must be registered in your parent or legal guardian's name);
Have a valid contact address; and
Have valid SingPass credentials, or other authentication credentials approved past CAAS.

To annals the drone, yous need to complete the following steps:

1) Obtain a registration label for your drone

You lot need to obtain a registration label for your drone. Each registration characterization volition incorporate an unique identification number which will exist tagged to your drone.

You tin can obtain such a label from either the online CAAS shop, any post office of Singapore Mail service or any other persons authorised by CAAS to sell or provide such labels.

After obtaining the registration label, you must stick the label at a clear place on the drone and ensure that the unique identification number is visibly stated on the registration label.

Each label costs $xv. A Singaporean or permanent resident can obtain upward to 5 registration labels, whereas a foreigner tin can but obtain 1 registration characterization.

2) Submit your registration course

You can submit your registration course online via the UAPortal on the CAAS website. Please prepare the following documentation earlier accessing the portal:

A valid UA registration label (as obtained in the previous step)
Registration ID and Verification ID (found within UA registration characterization and packaging)
Your personal details, such as your proper name, age and contact accost
Details of the drone, such as its brand, its serial number, flying controller number, weight and frequency
A digital photo of the drone with the affixed UA registration label

Penalties for not-compliance with drone registration and related requirements

From 2 Apr 2020, it will exist an offence to operate an unregistered drone above 250 grams. Any person who does and then, or fails to comply with the registration requirements mentioned above, will exist sentenced to up to 6 months' imprisonment or upwardly to a $ten,000 fine, or both, for each offence.

Attention Drone Training and Obtaining the Relevant Certificates/Licences

From 1 June 2020, new regulations requiring certain drone operators to attend training and obtain the relevant certificates or licences volition be put in place. These regulations will exist enforced from one February 2021 onwards. Subsequently which, non-compliance with the regulations will be an offence.

If you intend to operate a drone upwards to 7kg for recreational or educational purposes

Nether the new regulations, if you plan on operating a drone that has a full mass above 1.5kg upward to 7kg for a recreational or educational purpose, you will be either required to:

Concord a UA Bones Grooming document and be at least xvi years old; or
Fly your drone nether the supervision of someone who has such a certificate (otherwise known as the supervising pilot).

To obtain the Bones Training certificate, you will exist required to sign up and participate in a one-time UA basic theory training course. Through this course, you will learn how to operate your UA or drone safely.

The course will exist conducted past CAAS-approved training companies and take no longer than ii hours to exist completed. Upon completion of this course, you will be awarded the UA Basic Training certificate.

If you lot intend to operate a drone above 7kg or for commercial purposes

Pass a theory and practical test, and obtain a UA Airplane pilot Licence (UAPL)

If you intend to operate a drone for a commercial purpose (regardless of the weight of the drone), or if your drone is higher up vii kg, you will be required to obtain an UA Airplane pilot Licence (UAPL).

To obtain the UA pilot licence, y'all must:

Be at least 16 years of age;
Have successfully passed a theory examination administered by CAAS; and
Take successfully passed a practical cess, of the specific class and category of drone you intend to operate, conducted by an authorised flight examiner.

The theory test volition cover aspects such as air law and safety and operations. To set for the examination and assessment, you may nourish theory and practical classes which volition be conducted by a UA Training and Assessment Organisation (UATO). A list of UATOs is available here.

Upon completion of your theory test and practical assessment, you volition be awarded a UAPL which will authorise you to operate a drone of the category and rating specified in the licence.

At that place are mainly 2 categories – Grade A and Form B – that 1 can obtain a UAPL nether. A Class A UAPL allows you to fly whatever drone, weighing up to 25kg, within one the post-obit categories:

Aeroplane
Rotorcraft
Power-lifted drone
Airship

On the other manus, the Form B UAPL allows you lot to wing only a specific model of drone weighing more than 25kg. To go a Class B UAPL, you will demand a Form A UAPL for the specific category that the drone model you intend to fly is classified under.

The drone model also has to exist canonical within a UA operator permit (more than data on this below).

If yous hold a Grade A UAPL

Holders of a Class A UAPL are also mandated by constabulary to undergo a proficiency test in one case every 4 years from the date that you were awarded your UAPL.

If you skip this proficiency test, your UAPL will expire at the finish of the iv years from either the date which you obtained your licence, or the date since you concluding passed the proficiency test.

If you concord a Class B UAPL

Holders of a Class B UAPL will be required to complete a refresher training at to the lowest degree one time a yr conducted by a UATO.

If you fail to accept this refresher class, and then your UAPL will expire 1 year from either the date which y'all obtained the Class B UAPL licence, or from the date that you last completed Course B refresher grooming.

Penalties for operating a drone without the relevant certificate or licence

Information technology is an offence to operate a drone weighing above 7kg or for recreational or educational purposes without a valid UAPL.

In add-on, from 1 Feb 2021, it will likewise be an offence if you:

Fail to produce a document if asked by the relevant government to do so when either operating a drone or supervising someone operating a drone.
Operate a drone which is either above 7kg or for commercial purposes (regardless of the drone's weight) without a valid UAPL

For a get-go-time offence, you volition be fined up to $fifty,000 or imprisoned upwardly to 2 years, or given both punishments. For repeat offences, you will be fined upwardly to $100,000, or imprisoned up to 5 years, or given both punishments.

Penalties for failing to produce your certificate or licence

While operating your drone (or supervising someone who is doing and so), you may be requested by CAAS-authorised personnel to produce your certificate or licence. This is to allow them to determine your identity, the validity of your certificate or licence, and whether you are authorised to operate the drone.

If you fail to produce your document or licence and take no reasonable excuse for not doing and then, you will be committing an offence. For a starting time- time offence, you volition exist fined upward to $20,000. For repeat offences, you volition be fined upward to $twoscore,000, or imprisoned upwardly to 15 months, or given both punishments.

Applying for Drone Permits: Operator Allow and Activity Allow

Operator and activity permits are issued past CAAS to certify and authorise an private to safely operate a drone outdoors.

Depending on the weight of the drone and your purpose for operating the drone, y'all may also be required to obtain either a Class 1 or Class ii activity permit, and/or a UA operator permit.

UA Operator permit

An UA operator permit is issued by CAAS to a company or private but if the applicant has demonstrated safe handling and functioning of the drone. In deciding whether to issue the permit, the CAAS will ascertain:

The applicant'southward organisational gear up-up
Whether the bidder conducts safety risk assessments
The airworthiness of each of the applicant's drones
The competency of the personnel involved in the flying of the drone.

A UA operator permit is valid upwards to a year.

Activity allow

Conversely, an activeness permit is granted by the CAAS to an organization or individual for either a single activity or a block of repeated activities to be carried out by the drone.

In granting the activity permit, the CAAS will consider factors such as the:

Date and fourth dimension of the drone flights
Operating altitude of the drone during the flight
Location of operation
Purpose for flying the drone
Mitigation measures put in place to accost potential concerns with the drone'south operational environment

You need to obtain a Class one action permit and a UA operator permit if you lot intend to operate a drone:

Weighing above 25kg for any purpose
Weighs between 7kg and 25kg outdoors for an educational purpose
(Being of whatsoever weight) in the class of business or for a commercial purpose.

On the other hand, you merely need to obtain a Class two activity permit:

Either if you wish to operate a drone that weighs 25kg or below and outdoors for any recreational purpose; or
If your operate a drone which weighs 7kg or below for an educational purpose; and
When your planned activity satisfies whatever of the post-obit circumstances:
- When your drone operates college than 200ft (about 60m) above mean body of water level;
- If your drone flies within 5km of whatever civil airdrome or armed services airbase; or
- If your drone comes inside any dangerous or restricted area.

Applying for a allow

Permit applications are to be submitted electronically via the CAAS website.

For UA operator permits, you would demand to submit documents such equally an Operations Manual, the purpose of which is to describe the details of how the operator plans to operate his drone in Singapore.

The Operations Manual should include key details such equally:

The identity and contact details of drone operator;
The general procedures for incident and blow reporting;
A description of flight records; and
A description of an internal training program to ensure the competency of drone pilots.

For an activity let, you would be required to submit:

An analogy of the whole flight program;
A floor program which shows the horizontal flight path of the UA; and
Indicate whether the activity is to take place within proximity of an organised event where a crowd is expected.

All applications to acquire either an UA operator allow or activeness permit should be fabricated at least 2 weeks in accelerate before your planned date of operation to allow for sufficient fourth dimension for processing these permits. You can expect the processing fourth dimension for an activeness allow to exist effectually 5 days whereas it would take about 10 days for a UA operator's permit.

The relevant fees to be paid to obtain each let can be found in the table below:

Permit Application Type		Fee
UA operator permit (OP)	New: Operator Assessment + 1st UA type	$600
	For each UA blazon added or substituted	$400
	Renewal	$200
Class 1 activeness permit (AP1)	Each activity or block of different dates/times of the same action (i.eastward. same location, types of operations, and UA blazon)	$75
Class 1 activeness permit (AP1)	Repeat activity (same as previously-approved activity allow) with new dates/times but	$25
Form 2 activeness permit (AP2)	Each activity or block of different dates/times of the same action (i.east. aforementioned location, types of operations, and UA blazon)	$60
Form 2 activeness permit (AP2)	Repeat activity (same as previously approved activity permit) with new dates/times merely	$20

Penalties for declining to obtain the required let

If you fail to obtain an UA operator permit for operating drones which require such permits:

For a first-time offence, you can exist fined up to $50,000 or imprisoned for upward to 2 years, or given both punishments
For second and subsequent offences, you can be fined up to $100,000 or imprisoned for upward to 5 years, or given both punishments.

Situations in which no operator permit or activity permit is required

You lot do non accept to obtain permits for your drones if their operation fall within any of the following categories:

if you were to fly your drone outside of Singapore;
if you were to wing your drone indoors inside a private residence; or
if y'all were to wing your drone indoors at an experimental site in connection with the construction or testing;
if you were to wing a drone which weighs either:
- Up to 25kg, or
- Up to 7kg and is used for educational purposes,

and remains in your line of sight as you operate it. For this exception, the person should not be operating the drone for a Class 2 activeness. A drone remains in your line of sight when you are able to run across the drone as you are operating it.

If y'all were engaged by a UATO to fly a drone for the purposes of providing training or education to a new drone user. For this exception, the person should not operate the drone for a Course 2 activity.

Flight Your Drone

When operating your drone, you are non allowed to fly it in sure dangerous, protected or restricted areas unless you have a Class ii activity permit.

Such restricted areas include areas inside 5km of a civil airport or a military airbase and alsoinclude the Central Business organisation District, specified parts of Upper Pierce Reservoir Park, airspaces within 5km of Changi Airdrome as well as the Paya Lebar Air Base.

You can utilise the oneMap portal to check for no-fly zones in Singapore which are off-limits to drones.

If you were to fly a drone into these restricted areas, you must be able to produce an activity permit when asked upon by the relevant authorities. Otherwise:

For a starting time-time offence, you lot tin be fined up to $xx,000;
For repeat offences, you can exist fined up to $40,000, or be imprisoned for upwards to xv months, or given both punishments.

In March 2020, a man was fined $ix,000 for flight a drone in an open field in Punggol that was inside 5km of Paya Lebar Air Base, without a Grade 2 activity let.

Additionally, your drone is also not allowed to conduct whatever dangerous appurtenances when flying over Singapore. Dangerous goods include weapons, explosive or radioactive materials, or any hazardous materials that are prescribed and published in the Singapore Government Gazette.

You will be guilty of an offence if your drone does carry such dangerous materials over Singapore. In such an instance, you can confront a fine up to $100,000 or imprisonment for a term upwardly to 5 years or both.

Privacy considerations under the PDPA when using drones

Information technology is a common occurrence to see drones being used for photography and videography purposes to capture aerial photos. However, you must be aware of the potential privacy concerns that you may face when using drones for such purposes.

Obtaining consent when using drones for commercial purposes

The obligations under the Personal Information Protection Deed (PDPA) practise non apply to someone who takes such photos in a personal capacity.This typically refers to situations where you lot are taking the photos for your own personal use, such as taking photos at gatherings involving family unit and friends.

All the same, where an organisation or an individual uses drones with either photography or video-recording capabilities for commercial purposes, they volition be subject to legal requirements nether the PDPA. Such instances would include if you were employed by an organisation as a freelance lensman, to take photos for a wedding ceremony.

If you plan on taking photos with your drones for such commercial purposes, you lot need to obtain consent from the people who would announced in and be identifiable in such photos. Such consent can be actually obtained or obtained in the form of deemed consent.

Actual consent can exist obtained when attendees of an event expressly sign a form indicating their consent for their photos to be taken. On the other hand, accounted consent refers to a situation where the law assumes that persons would take given consent by voluntarily taking office in the activities in which their personal data would exist utilised.

For example, when the organisation puts upward obvious signs on the entrance of the function venue to inform the attendees that photographs volition exist taken at the result, persons entering the function are deemed to have consented to having their photographs taken.

No using of drones to take photos or videos in protected areas

Examples of such areas include the Istana, army camps and the Constabulary Cantonment Circuitous. Use the "Protected Area under Section 7 Air Navigation Act" pick in the oneMap portal to check if the place you intend to have drone photos or videos in is a protected area.

If you lot are institute guilty of using a drone to take photos or videos in protected areas:

For a first-time offence, you can be fined up to $50,000 or imprisoned for up to ii years, or given both punishments;
For echo offences, you can exist fined up to $100,000 or exist imprisoned for upward to 5 years, or given both punishments.

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Many laws take been enacted with the purpose of ensuring that drone operators in Singapore conduct their operations in a condom and secure manner.

While the extent of these measures may discourage new users from joining the drone customs, these measures aim to assist ensure the safe functioning of drones, then every bit to not interfere with air travel or cause personal danger to others.

Should you lot wish to operate a drone in Singapore, you should make the necessary checks to determine what kinds of permits or licences that you may need, and obtain such permits and licences as required, to play your office in keeping Singapore's airspace a safe one.