Drone Laws in Honduras

Summary of Drone Laws in Honduras

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Republic of Honduras

Drone Regulator in Honduras: Agencia Hondureña De Aeronautica Civil (AAC)

Honduras Drone Regulations (In Spanish)

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UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Honduras

The Honduras agency responsible for drone safety, AAC, 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.

Are drones allowed in Honduras?

According to AAC, drone use is allowed in Honduras, subject to AAC regulations. Read on for more details.

Drone Classifications in Honduras

Honduras classifies drones by weight and use. Compliance varies by classification.

Category	Weight	Requirements
Micro	Under 250g	Not required to be registered for private use
Mini	From 250g to 2.5kg	Registration required
Pequeno	From 2.5kg to 25kg	Registration required
Grande	More than 25kg	Requires special authorization

Operational Requirements for flying a drone in Honduras:

• Drone propellers and/or rotors cannot be made of metal.
• The RPAS must be manufactured in all its components of suitable materials that break, distort or yield on impact to minimize the risk to any person, structure, or object in the collision event.
• Do not exceed weight (takeoff mass) beyond what is allowed according to its category.
• Have the appropriate means for deployment and recovery to operate safely (landing gear, skid, net, parachute, etc.).
• Possess an assisted flight system (flight controller) that provides the RPAS with controllable steady-state operation every moment.
• Positioning system (GPS) and data recorder (logbook flight) onboard that report position and store information on the operations.
• Security mechanisms (RTH, RTL, etc.) facilitate automatic return in case of loss of communications with the ground control station or other emergencies.
• A robust radio communication system(s) that guarantees command and control at all times, as well as the telemetry of essential data to the remote pilot during operations. Such systems must not cause interference and be resistant to interference.
• A remote pilot interface OR ground control station is reliable, compatible with the remote pilot, and capable of providing command means to control and provide data visualization of flight, all in real-time during the entire operation.
• Have all the technical documentation relevant to the operation, maintenance, and history of the RPAS (manuals, instructions, logs, etc.).

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

1. “RPAS” operation is not permitted above 400 feet (122 meters), above ground level (AGL).
2. The operation of “RPAS” is not allowed when adverse conditions exist and/or meteorological risk factors (strong winds, precipitation, rain, atypical solar activity, etc.).
3. The operation of the “RPAS” is not allowed beyond the Pilot’s visual range.
4. It is not allowed to operate two or more “RPAS” simultaneously by the same Remote Pilot.
5. The operation of an “RPAS” by the Remote Pilot is not allowed under the influence of the ingestion of alcoholic beverages or psychotropic or narcotic drugs that affect the psychomotor response and situational awareness.
6. “RPAS” operation is not allowed at night time (between twilight evening civilian twilight and morning civil twilight, from the official sunset at the official sunrise time), nor daytime conditions instrument flight (IFR).
7. It is not allowed to throw OR release objects from the “RPAS” during its operation.
8. The operation of “RPAS” is not allowed in prohibited, restricted, or dangerous in Honduran airspace published in the current AIP in Honduras.
9. “RPAS” operations are not allowed within a radius of: 2.7 miles nautical (5 kilometers) around an airport, 1.5 nautical miles (3 kilometers) from an uncontrolled aerodrome, and 0.5 nautical miles (1 kilometer) of a heliport,
10. “RPAS” operations are not allowed near crewed aircraft and air operations.
11. The operation of “RPAS” on military installations and entities is not allowed. For example, National Security, the Presidential House, the Supreme Court of Justice, the National Congress of the Republic, courts, and agencies related, judicial centers, government institutions, power stations and substations, hydroelectric dams, power plants, geothermal, seaports, hospitals, prisons, Diplomatic bodies (Embassies, consulates and the like), reservations biological, and areas declared according to municipal regulations.
12. RPAS operation is not allowed within a radius of two kilometers (2 km) around any place where the President of the Republic, Presidential appointees, and other national authorities or embassies.
13. “RPAS” operations are not allowed over populated urban areas, public events, crowds, and buildings.
14. RPAS operations to house OR transport animals, dangerous goods, or substances are prohibited by law.

Registration of Operators and Operating Limitations of Remote-Pilot Aircraft Systems (RPAS)

You must register using the RPAS Registration Form

Documents you must attach:

1. Copy of Identity
2. Copy of Purchase Invoice or Affidavit
3. Letter of Commitment. (Only for classification of PRIVATE USE, you must present a signed commitment letter, where you agree to comply with the provisions of the regulations and will not carry out commercial, institutional, or profit-making operations.)
4. Photographs of the aircraft (front, side, rear, and top)
5. Photographs of the ground command station
6. Photographs of the support team (only if applicable)
7. Authenticated Copy of Insurance Policy. (Only for Commercial and Government)
8. Operator’s Manual (in case of being Commercial or Government)

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Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Honduras

See the General Rules above.

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Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Honduras

All RPAS classified under commercial use, regardless of their weight and who carry out operations with economic purposes or classified under institutional use or intended for the service of the public, must undergo the RPAS type Registration process and Authorization for Operations.

1. All RPAS operations for profit, institutional, OR intended for public service must comply with the limitations
   general operating instructions contained in section A) of the “LIMITATIONS OF THE OPERATION OF RPAS IN THE AIRSPACE HONDURAN “
2. All operators with RPAS within this classification must be registered in the National Aeronautical Registry of the Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency.
3. All PAS operations within this classification must obtain the authorization of Commercial RPAS OR RPAS Institutional / Government.
4. All PAS operations within this classification must include a Civil Liability Insurance Policy for damage to Third Parties
   at minimum.

Commercial RPAS Operation Request:

Any natural or legal person who intends to carry out operations with Systems of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAS) and its purpose is commercial must obtain authorization from the Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency and must prove the following documentation:

1. Authorization Request Form
2. Proof of Registration and identification of the RPAS
3. Verification of the Remote Observer Pilot record
4. Civil liability insurance policy for damage to third parties.
5. Service Contract that will be provided as the case may be.
6. Operator’s Manual
7. If the natural or legal person intends to carry out operations for purposes of private security, he must accredit an opinion by the Security Secretary.
8. Once the requirements established in this section have been met, the Authority Aeronáutica will extend the authorization for the Operation of Commercial Use.

Other obligations and regulations may be applied. Check the links provided above.

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Useful published information on flying drones in Honduras

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

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NOTE: This page is about the Regulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: 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, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.

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Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.

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