Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC)
UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Venezuela
The Venezuelan agency responsible for drone safety, INAC, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying a drone for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details go to the link above.
Are drones allowed in Venezuela?
Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Venezuela:
Venezuela divides remotely piloted aircraft into different classes according to weight:
- Class 1 Mini RPA: less than 3 kilograms
- Class 2 RPA Ligeros: between 3 and 25 kilograms
- Class 3 RPA Livianos: between 25 and 150 kilograms
- Class 4 RPA Pesado: more than 150 kilograms
This classification does not differentiate between private and commercial use.
Licensing Requirements for Flying a Drone in Venezuela
Venezuela has several categories of licenses for drone operations. Here are the basic requirements for obtaining a license to operate a drone in Venezuela:
- Applicants must be Venezuelans or nationals of countries that grant reciprocal rights to Venezuelans.
- Spanish is a language that must be spoken, read, and written.
- Possess a valid Aeronautical Medical Certificate for the type of license held.
- To operate class 1 drones, a pilot must be at least 13 years old, possess a valid license, and have a medical certificate.
- In Venezuela, drones must be registered. This appears to be accomplished through the use of this online platform. Additionally, there is a registration form that includes a list of additional required documents.
Registration
Before flying in the national airspace, all RPAs must be registered with the National Aviation Registry (“RAN”).
Registration marks will be granted to only those classified as Class 3 or 4. All other classes will receive a Registration Proof Certificate.
Venezuela Drone registration Form for National Aerospace
Airworthiness
To fly in the national airspace, RPAs classified as Class 4 must obtain a Certificate of Airworthiness from the CAA.
RPAs classified as Class 2 and 3 do not. Rather than that, they must obtain a Certificate of Conformity with Airworthy Condition certifying that the RPA in question is safe to fly.
For Class 1 RPAs, no proof of airworthiness is required. Still, the operator must submit to the CAA a Declaration of Safe Operation and Conformity with Original Design if the RPA is used in commercial operations.
Safety distances and flight bans
Airports should be kept at a distance of 9 kilometers. Class 1 and Class 2 RPAs are permitted to fly up to 400 feet in altitude.
You can fly only during daylight hours. The pilot must maintain a line of sight with their drone. If it is class 1 (less than 3 kilograms in weight), it may fly up to 500 meters.
A distance of 1.8 kilometers should be maintained between the president’s residence, domestic and foreign authorities, basic industry facilities and companies (iron, steel, electricity, petrochemicals), and military, police, and prison facilities.
Operations
All operations must be conducted during daylight hours and in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions.
You must avoid flying over populated areas and private property to photograph or film without the owner’s permission.
RPAs classified as Class 1 or Class 2 are limited to a maximum altitude of 400 feet (122 meters) from the point of take-off and must remain within 500 meters (700 meters) of visual line of sight (VLOS). These restrictions do not apply to RPAS classified as Class 3 or Class 4, as their performance will be determined by the manufacturer’s manual.
No drone may be operated within 5 nautical miles or 9 kilometers of any airport or within a 1.8-kilometer radius of the following: (1) the President of the State; (2) any military or police station; (3) any prison; or (4) any oil and mineral-processing companies classified as ‘strategic industries.’
Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Venezuela
To operate a Class 1 or Class 2 RPA for recreational purposes, no authorization is required.
For the recreational operation of Class 3 and Class 4 drones, you require a special CAA authorization.
Pilots who operate drones for recreational purposes must be at least 13 years old and possess a Certificate of Successful Completion of an RPAs Course from a recognized training organization.
You must maintain a civil liability policy to cover damages to third parties caused by your operation. This insurance policy must also be validated before the CAA for the operation of Class 3 or Class 4 RPAs.
No license is required to operate Class 1 RPAs recreationally. However, a valid license is required for all other classes.
Notes for Commercial Drone Services operations in Venezuela
Any operator wishing to operate drones commercially in Venezuela must first obtain a drone operator certificate, or “ROC” (Remote Aircraft Operator Certificate – the equivalent of the AOC (Aircraft Operator Certificate) used in traditional commercial aviation).
The regulation makes no distinction between international and domestic RPA operators. As a result, unless the CAA provides otherwise, the certification procedure is open to both.
Although the regulation specifies a 30-day certification period for Class 1 and Class 2 RPAs and a 90-day certification period for Class 3 and Class 4 RPAs, certification typically takes much longer.
Useful published information on flying drones in Venezuela
Here is a useful introduction video by CAANZ and Airshare NZ on flying a drone legally in Venezuela…
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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