Drone Laws in Bhutan

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Kingdom of Bhutan

Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA)

Bhutan Drone Regulations

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UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Bhutan

The Bhutan agency responsible for drone safety, BCAA, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details go to the link above to check for recent updates.

Are drones allowed in Bhutan?

According to BCAA, drone operations are limited to government use in Bhutan subject to regulations provided by the BCAA. Read on for details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Bhutan:

This Regulation is developed in line with section 66(1) of the Civil Aviation Act of Bhutan 2016 and shall apply to the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS):

1. Having maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) up to 6 kg.
2. Flying outdoors.
3. Operating in Visual line of sight (VLOS) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
4. Operating during daytime (after sunrise and before sunset – as per Aeronautical Information Publication).
5. Having MTOW above 6kg and below 25kgs – under special circumstances.
6. Shall be permitted only for Government organizations.

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Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Bhutan

See general rules above.

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Notes for Commercial Drone Services operations in Bhutan

See general rules above.

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Useful published information on flying drones in Bhutan

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Bhutan…

NOTE: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model aircraft, toy aircraft, Remote controlled aircraft, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.

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