Kosupa Travel

Hello, this is Yam, a travel blogger and drone pilot! Continuing from the previous article, I’ll introduce precautions for taking drones abroad.

When traveling to overseas tourist destinations known for their scenery, have you ever thought about bringing a drone to capture dynamic photos and videos from the air? Drones are revolutionary tools that can make such dream trips a reality, but there are many things you need to know to bring them overseas. This article explains what to keep in mind and what precautions to take when (after following the proper procedures) taking drones abroad for aerial photography. Whether you’re planning to purchase a drone or are already experienced with flying drones in Japan, please take a look!

※This article introduces the generally required procedures for taking drones overseas. In reality, rules differ depending on the destination country, so please be sure to check the local laws yourself and follow the appropriate procedures.

For details on the procedures for bringing drones overseas, please see the previous article below!

www.kosupatravel.com

[:contents]

Things to Be Careful About When Flying Drones Overseas

Now, let’s introduce several things to be careful about when flying drones overseas. Much of what I’ll introduce here also applies when flying in Japan, so for experienced drone users who are already familiar with domestic rules, this might be a bit boring, but please check it again as a review!

1. Be Aware of No-Fly Zones

When flying a drone, be very careful not to fly in areas designated as “No-Fly Zones”. The definition of no-fly zones varies by country, but common examples include areas near airports, military grounds, government facilities, and densely built-up areas. In some countries, the entire capital city might be designated, or areas near national borders. Carefully read the laws and guidelines of your destination country to avoid violations.

2. Be Aware of Altitude Restrictions

In addition to area-specific regulations, there are usually restrictions on flight altitude. While in Japan it’s set at up to 150m above ground, in some countries, you may need to fly at lower altitudes. If you fly with your usual settings, you might unknowingly violate restrictions, so don’t forget to change your settings in advance.

3. Be Careful of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Flight

BVLOS flight refers to drone flight beyond the range that can be directly seen with the eye, including cases where the drone is too far from the operator or where the view is obstructed by mountains or buildings. It also includes cases where you operate from a first-person perspective wearing special goggles (FPV). In many countries, such BVLOS flights are not allowed, and some even specify a maximum horizontal distance between the operator and the drone.

4. Be Careful of People

Needless to say, when flying a drone, you need to be careful of people nearby. If a drone were to fall on someone’s head, it could cause more than just an injury. While regulations may differ by country, generally, you need to take measures to ensure that third parties don’t approach within 30 meters of the drone.

5. Be Aware of Extreme Climate

An unexpected blind spot, but the extreme climate in some foreign countries can lead to troubles rarely seen domestically. For example, many drones are typically rated to operate in temperatures between 0°C and 40°C, so flying in the scorching heat of desert regions or filming glaciers in the Arctic carries a risk of malfunction. Additionally, sudden regional winds or squalls can lead to unexpected incidents that you might not be prepared for based on Japanese experiences, so it’s necessary to pay close attention to the weather.

6. Be Mindful of Privacy

While it may not be explicitly stated in guidelines, at the very least, be mindful of other people’s privacy. Even if it’s not a no-fly zone, flying a drone in a hot spring area might raise suspicions of voyeurism, and in resort areas, it might lead to complaints about disturbing people’s private moments.

7. No Flying Before Sunrise or After Sunset

In many countries, night flights are prohibited, strictly speaking, this includes before sunrise and after sunset. To avoid trouble like unknowingly flying after dark and getting caught by local police, make sure to check the sunrise and sunset times in advance.

8. Don’t Forget to Get Permission from Land Managers

Especially when flying over private property, or even if it’s not private property, when flying in places like national parks managed by the government, you need prior permission from the land owner or manager (otherwise, in the worst case, you might be prosecuted for trespassing).

Even roads or mountains that might seem to belong to no one are often owned by someone or managed by some agency, so if you’re unsure, it’s recommended to consult with the local government in advance.

Recommended Drones for Overseas Travel

Finally, based on personal experience, I’ll introduce some recommended drones for taking overseas! Note that drone performance varies greatly depending on price. Especially with unknown brands, camera performance and wind resistance are often significantly inferior, so I recommend purchasing from well-known brands like DJI. Also, when actually using it during travel, one drone battery is not enough, so I recommend purchasing a kit that includes optional extras like spare batteries and charging hubs rather than just the drone itself.

1. DJI Air 3

This is an excellent model that combines high performance, high image quality, and light weight. With two cameras, wide-angle and telephoto, this drone is very useful for shooting in a wide range of compositions, both near and far.

When purchasing the DJI Air 3, this set with spare batteries and a charging hub is a great deal!

2. DJI Mini 4 Pro

This model focuses more on lightness. While inferior to the Air 3 in image quality and performance, it still offers sufficient professional quality, and is especially recommended for those who don’t want to bulk up their travel luggage.

When purchasing the DJI Mini 4 Pro, this set with spare batteries and a charging hub is a great deal!

Final Thoughts

I’ve briefly introduced precautions for drone photography overseas. Everyone feels nervous about their first drone experience abroad. But surely, a drone will make your trip richer and more memorable. If you’re hesitating to take the last step towards overseas drone aerial photography, please take this opportunity to make your overseas drone debut!

Check out the next related article here!

www.kosupatravel.com

If you liked this article, please show your support with a click!

[blog:g:11696248318754550865:banner] [blog:g:12921228815730898843:banner]