Drone operations are limited to government use in Bhutan subject to regulations provided by the BCAA. Official links and Bhutan Drone Laws explained for residents and visitors, hobbyists, recreational, commercial drone flyers
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Hobbyist Drone Laws For Residents of Bhutan
Drone Operations in Bhutan are currently regulated for government use only.
- Hobbyist drone flights are not allowed in Bhutan
- Hobbyist Bhutan drone pilot license is not applicable
- Hobbyist Drone registration is not applicable in Bhutan for hobbyists
- Drone Remote ID is not required in Bhutan for hobbyists
- Drone Insurance is not required but recommended for hobbyists’ drone operations in Bhutan
Read below for more details on Hobbyist Drone Laws in Bhutan and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!
Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Kingdom of Bhutan
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?
Is drone allowed in Bhutan? Yes, but 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):
- Having a maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) of up to 6 kg.
- Flying outdoors.
- Operating in Visual line of sight (VLOS) and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
- Operating during daytime (after sunrise and before sunset – as per Aeronautical Information Publication).
- Having MTOW above 6kg and below 25kgs – under exceptional circumstances.
- Shall be permitted only for Government organisations.
Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Bhutan
See the general rules above.
Commercial Drone Laws For Residents of Bhutan
Drone Operations in Bhutan are currently regulated for government use only.
- Commercial drone flights are not allowed in Bhutan
- Commercial Bhutan drone pilot license is not applicable
- Commercial Drone registration is not applicable in Bhutan for commercial drone operators
- Drone Remote ID is not required in Bhutan for Commercial Drone Operators
- Drone Insurance is required for commercial drone operations in Bhutan
Read below for more details on Commercial Drone Laws in Bhutan and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!
Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Bhutan
See the general rules above.
Drone Laws For Visitors To Bhutan
Drone Operations in Bhutan are currently regulated for government use only.
- Foreign visitor drone flights are not allowed in Bhutan
- Foreign visitor drone pilot license is not applicable
- Drone registration is not applicable in Bhutan for visitors/tourists
- Drone Remote ID is not required in Bhutan for tourists
- Drone Insurance is not applicable for tourist drone operations in Bhutan
Read below for more details on Drone Laws in Bhutan for Visitors (Tourists) and to find links to regulators and other credible sources!
Foreign Operators
See notes above
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…
Authoritative Sources of Information on Bhutan
We will attempt to keep an updated list of online authoritative links to regulators and other official websites here:
- Drone Regulator Website:
- Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA)
- Link To SUAS Laws: Bhutan Drone Regulations
- No Fly Zone Maps/Locations: N/A
- UAV Registration Site: N/A
- Drone Operator Licensing Site: N/A
- Others: N/A
Phil Says: ‘ 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.’
mavicandme.com would like to thank dronelaws.com for information used in this section.