On any given day, how many times had you seen videos involving drone shots pass by your social media feeds? With the ongoing reclamation activities at Manila Bay, within the vicinity of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and SM Mall of Asia, it attracted quite a number of “vloggers” to post their video reports and updates with the use of their drones.
As AvGeeks, our primary concern is the safety of helicopter pilots and passengers traversing these areas to and from the airport as it is part of what we call the “helicopter route” where choppers fly below 500 feet (altitude). This prompted us to ask our friends at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) if the use of drones above Manila Bay (areas under the jurisdiction of Pasay City and Parañaque City) — where the country’s premiere gateway, the NAIA is also located — are legally permitted.
According to the CAAP, the operation of drones within the airport’s immediate vicinity is strictly prohibited for safety and security reasons. This “immediate vicinity” is defined as the area within a radius of ten (10) kilometers from the perimeter fence of an airport. This regulation is in line with international standards and practices to prevent any unauthorized or accidental interference with aircraft operations, which can lead to serious accidents.
If we are to plot the 10-kilometer radius zone from the NAIA, technically, almost the entire Metro Manila is covered by this drone no-fly zone if we strictly follow the CAAP’s mandate.
If you want to commercially operate a drone in the Philippines, you need to register your drone with the CAAP and follow the rules and regulations for drone operations. These rules include obtaining a Remote Pilot Certificate, following specific flight restrictions and regulations, and maintaining a safe distance from airports, helipads, and other critical infrastructure.
All Remotely Piloted Aircrafts used for commercial operations, regardless of weight, must be registered with the Authority. Further, non-commercial Large RPAs, with a gross weight of 7kg and above, shall be duly registered with the Authority. This includes custom-built drones and drones built from a kit or off-the-shelf. Please remember that users will be held accountable for all activities involving the RPAs registered under their names. Source: https://caap.gov.ph/rpa-registration/
What happens if you violate CAAP’s rules?
Any violation of any rule or regulation in relation to drones shall be punished by a fine ranging from Twenty thousand pesos (PHP20,000.00) to One hundred thousand pesos (PHP100,000.00) for each violation. Source: https://caap.gov.ph/penalties/