Drone Regulations in Singapore: What You Need to Know Before Flying

A housing manager at Nanyang Technological University was recently fined $7,500 for not adhering to CAAS’ regulatory requirements for flying a drone. The common consensus from the community of drone enthusiasts in Singapore was that he fell victim to not having an understanding of the regulatory requirements for flying drones. In this guide, we explain what is required to fly a drone — without breaking the law.

In a nutshell, the permits and licenses you require depend on three criteria:

1. Your purpose of activity: Are you flying a drone for recreational, educational or business purposes?
2. The total weight of your drone, or Unmanned Aircraft
3. The location and height at which you fly your unmanned vehicle

Factor #1: What is the purpose of your drone flying activity?

What type of drone flyer are you? How you use your drone would determine the type of regulatory requirements you need to meet. There are three ways in which you can use your drone: for recreational purposes, for educational purposes and finally, for business/non-recreational/non-educational purposes.

Flying drones for recreational purposes

This generally refers to drone hobbyists and enthusiasts who fly drones for enjoyment, and do not gain monetarily from their aerial activities.

Flying drones for educational purposes

While it is not explicitly explained on the CAAS website or in their advisories, flying drones for educational purposes is only limited to educational institutions in Singapore. If you are a training operator, you’re considered conducting a business activity, which brings us to our next point.

Flying drones for business/Non-recreational/non-educational purposes

The simple definition to this is: as long as one benefits monetarily from flying a drone, it is considered a usage for business purposes.

Naturally, the regulations for using unmanned aircraft for business purposes are the strictest of all. You will need a UA Pilot License, Operator Permit and a minimum of Class 1 Activity Permit in all situations.

Factor #2: The Total Weight of Your Unmanned Aircraft

As long as you’re flying a drone lighter than 250g, the general rule of thumb is that you can proceed without much fanfare. That being said, that doesn’t mean you can, nor should you fly anywhere you want! While you’re exempted from having to register your drone, you will still need to comply with rules and regulations set forth by the CAAS, and make sure that you do not pose danger to others.

Once the weight of your drone or unmanned aircraft exceeds 250g, you must register the device with CAAS. The CAAS generally classifies unmanned aircrafts into four weight categories:

• Unmanned aircraft weighing between 250g to 1.5kg
• Unmanned aircraft weighing between 1.5kg to 7kg
• Unmanned aircraft weighing between 7kg to 25kg
• Unmanned aircraft weighing more than 25kg

Factor #3: The Location and The Height at Which You Fly Your Drone

Things get tricky when you are flying outdoors: (1) above 200 feet above mean sea level, (2) within any restricted/danger/protected area or (3) within 5km of any airport or military airbase.

Flying 200 feet above mean sea level

Mean sea level (MSL) refers to the average height of the sea. Of course, the concept of a “mean sea level” is arbitrary as it is not possible to measure the average sea level for the entire planet! This is generally a common base line in the whole world. Here in Singapore, 200 feet (or 61 metres) above mean sea level is approximately the height of a 12-storey building. 

As you fly your drone higher and higher, you will likely run into issues stabilizing your drone. Not only are air currents stronger in higher altitudes, thinner air makes it harder for your drone to stay afloat).

Flying within any restricted/danger/protected area

There is strictly no flying allowed over protected and prohibited areas, restricted areas and danger areas. To find out if you’re within the no-fly zone, download the OneMap app. As a rule of thumb, use your common sense and ensure that whatever you do does not pose danger to others.

Occasionally, CAAS establishes temporary restricted areas which restricts the public from flying drones for a limited period of time. An example of this would be when CAAS restricted parts of Marina Bay in preparation for NDP-related aerial activities from all aerial activities including kite-flying and flying of unmanned aircraft. You should always refer to CAAS for the latest announcements.

Within 5km of any airport or military airbases

While drones can be useful in many situations, your drone may unnecessarily pose security risks to airports and air bases. In fact, drones have become an increasing nuisance for airports worldwide. Studies have found that drones in the way of airplanes can potentially cause more damage than birds! Once again, use the OneMap app to find out where you can safely fly your drone.

Overview: Permits and Licenses Required for Each Type of Drone Flying Activity

Once you’ve identified the purpose of your flying activity, the weight of your drone and the location and height at which you fly your aircraft, you can then determine the license and permit required for your intended activity. We’ve outlined the permits and licenses required below.

For Recreational Purpose

For Educational Purposes

For Business/Non-Recreational/Non-Educational Purposes

To sum things up, before flying your unmanned aircraft, check that you have met the relevant regulatory requirements based on these factors: (1) the purpose of your activity – is it for recreational, educational or commercial purposes?, (2) what is the weight of your unmanned aircraft?, and (3) the location and height in which you intend to fly your device. Fly safe, and most importantly, without breaking the rules!