Recreational drone flyers, Bukit Bintang gadget peddlers, and wedding photographers eager to produce that certain je ne sais quoi of a helicopter-esque shot – you have now been warned. The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) will be putting an end to illegal drone flying in the country in the coming year.
By illegal drone flying, they mean everything that you’re doing in a space outside your own home.
The DCA will start with dedicated units based at 21 airports across the country, with monitoring equipment able to scan the area for flying drones. Mobile officers with high-frequency jammers will then be dispatched to the scene to seize the drones.
Under the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016, drone activity regardless if for professional or recreational purposes, requires a permit from the DCA. Flights cannot exceed 120m in height either.
Drones are also prohibited from flying within a 7km radius of airports, royal palaces and telco base stations.
KLCC and Putrajaya are “no-fly zones” for security reasons.
In the past, laws have been loosely enforced, leading hobbyists to believe that their activities were legal. However, illegal flying activities come with a RM50,000 (US$12,000), a three-year jail term, or both. Corporations caught flying drones will be fined RM100,000 (US$24,000), and their officers jailed for up to six months. Or both!
How to fly in these drone-dry times, you ask? Well the DCA may have a solution for you, and it starts with an RM800 (US$200) registration fee. Then an additional RM500 (US$120), for yearly renewal.
Over the last four years, over one million drones have been sold in Malaysia. Most of these are considered toy-grade, go for about RM100 (US$25) to RM400 (US$100), and cannot fly beyond a 25m radius.
Time to break the news to your tech-loving uncle that his ticket to the drone-zone has just been invalidated.
