Drone Owners, The Government Is Banning Drones In 2018 And Here’s What You Should Know

According to The Star, The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) is planning to put a stop to illegal drone flying in our country once and for all effective 2018.

The department has already set up an enforcement unit to curb unlawful drone flying activities, which, according to the news portal, will kick off early next year. The unit will be operating from 21 airports nationwide.

We know, you might be wondering, “What do you mean by illegal drone flying?” Well, it turns out that flying drones outside your house compound is actually against the law in Malaysia - regardless if the drone is used for commercial or leisure purposes.

Usage of the drone will only be allowed if you have obtained a flying permit from the DCA.

We know, many of you are actually unaware about this law. We didn't, either!

A DCA enforcement officer told the news portal: “Enforcement officers will monitor the airspace with a special radar that lets them spot drone activity in a specific area.”

There will also be mobile patrol officers who are equipped with high-frequency jammers that will be used to intercept and seize the drones.

I’m a drone owner, so what should I do with my drone now?

Well, don’t chuck away your drone in the store room or sell it off yet, there’s still hope for your drone.

Do take note of these pointers:

• Drone owners can fly drones within their house compound up to a height of 50m only.
• If you want to use it elsewhere, you need to apply for a permit with the DCA.
• The license is valid for three months and owners must declare where they want to fly the aircraft specifically.

Also, you can still bring it overseas during your holiday, so don’t feel disheartened by the news.

What is DCA planning to do in the future?

According to the DCA, laws governing drone usage have been around for quite some time now, but it isn’t strictly implemented. This is probably the reason why many drone owners or hobbyists are unaware of the law.

But the department is now taking a stern approach to the unlawful flying of drones in our country. Here are some of the things that they plan to implement in the near future:

• It is compulsory for every drone owner to register their devices. Currently, only drones that weigh more than 20kg are required to register with the department.
• Each drone must bear a registration number that’s visible on the tail (like your car’s plate number).
• After obtaining a permit, you are only allowed to fly them at a maximum height of 120m.
• The DCA is proposing a one-time registration fee of RM800 and a renewal fee of RM500 every subsequent year.

There will also be serious repercussions for those who fail to comply with the DCA’S guideline. A RM50,000 fine or up to three years of jail, or both, will be imposed on individuals found guilty of violating the regulations.

As for corporations or companies, they may face a fine of up to RM100,000 and its officers jailed six months, or both.

There are also a few areas in the country where the government have banned the usage of drones, such as Putrajaya and KLCC, due to security purposes. Drone operators are also prohibited from flying their devices within a 7km radius of airports, royal palaces, and telco base stations.