Ecuador Drone Laws (2019)

Ecuador Drone Laws

Img 1: Aerial Photography In Ecuador

  1. General Equador Drone Laws
  2. Drone Permits In Equador
  3. Brining Your Drone On Airplanes Guide
  4. Buying Drones In Equador
  5. Drone Travel Guide Articles
  6. Contact Information For Questions

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General Equador Drone Laws

Drone use is allowed in Equador, but there are several drone laws that need to be followed when flying in the country. Operators must ensure that they follow the following drone laws when flying in Equador,

  • Do not fly your drone over people or large crowds
  • Do not fly your drone higher than 120 meters
  • Respect others privacy when flying your drone
  • Do not fly your drone within 9km of airports or in areas where aircraft are operating
  • You must fly during daylight hours and only fly in good weather conditions
  • Do not fly your drone in sensitive areas including government or military facilities. Use of drones or camera drones in these areas are prohibited
  • Any drones brought into Equador that have a market value of over $500 USD may be taxed at up to 35% of the assessed value. This tax may or may not be refundable when you exit the country provided you bring the drone back with you

Can you fly drones in Galapagos?
It should be noted that the use and flight of drones in Galapagos is prohibited by the Law of the Galapagos National Park – PNG to avoid damage to the delicate ecosystem of the islands, since animals, mainly birds, could be frightened or hit with these aircraft. Its use in the Islands is only allowed for the strict use of research and monitoring or with a strict special permit for commercial use.

Insurance

The owner or operator of the RPAS / UAS are obliged to respond for damages caused to third parties, as a result of their flight activities, for which purpose they must contract the insurance policy of legal civil liability to third parties in the minimum amounts established in the table that appears next:

From 02 to 25 Kg. Of maximum take-off mass (MTOW) USD 3,000.00
Of more than 25 Kg. Of maximum take-off mass (MTOW) USD 5,000.00

Permit Needed For Recreational Drone Use?

A drone permit is not required for recreational drone use for drones under 2kg. Please adhere to the above General Equador Drone Laws however when flying your drone. (What Is Recreational Drone Use?)

Permit Needed For Commercial Drone Use?

A permit is required for commercial drone use in Equador. Click here to purchase a permit, or contact the local aviation authority. (What Is Commercial Drone Use?)

When registering, the Operator shall make available to Authorities, upon request, the Drone for Inspection and Testing and any associated documents and records;

• Before registration, the Authority is required to obtain a clearance certificate for the Operator from the Security Organs as part of a background check; and
• The Operator shall be 18 years of age or older

Click here to purchase assistance on how to get a permit, or contact the local aviation authority. (What Is Commercial Drone Use?)

Bringing Your Drone On Airplanes Guide

For a detailed guide to bringing your drone on airplanes click here. All drones should be brought on carry on luggage if possible. This is because according to the Montreal Convention, airlines are only liable for losses up to ~$1,000 USD. When traveling internationally, theft and lost luggage can be common issues, particularly if your flight has many connections. If your drone is worth more than $1,000 USD and you cannot bring it onto the plane you should consider shipping it with DHL, Fedex, or UPS instead and fully insure the shipment.

You should NOT place drone batteries in your checked baggage. All drone batteries should be placed in a Medium Size Lipo Battery Bag" data-src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=uavsystemsint-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B007V9MN44" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> like the one shown here in the link and brought onto the plane in your carry on bag. Lithium-ion batteries are considered “dangerous goods” by airlines and rules surrounding these batteries on planes are EXTREMELY strict due to multiple incidents of these batteries catching fire. Failure to properly pack lithium-ion batteries in a bag such as the one shown in the link above can result in the airline seizing them, you getting fined, or being denied boarding.

Here is some video footage shot by Epic Drone Videos when flying a drone in Equador.

Buying Drones In Equador

Read all of our Equador Drone Laws, and now looking for drones, parts, accessories, or something else? Read our guide for Buying Drones In Equador. It includes information on drones for sale in Equador, import taxes, payment options, and shipping.

Drone Travel Guide

Equador drone laws are up to date as of June, 2019. Please email [email protected] , or click “leave a message” at the bottom right of the screen if you have any questions or comments.