Make sure you register your UAVs before use in Singapore - learnt my lesson the hard way!!!
Go on Civil Aviation Authority Singapore (CAAS)'s website and apply for registration and check where/how high you can fly your drone before taking it out for a spin! Apparently, Singapore has rigorous rules about this and enforces them diligently. However, as per my personal observation, there are NO obvious signs in public spaces to tell you whether UAVs are allowed. That's how I was tripped over: I looked for warning signs and found none. Chose a very open and clear space (with no aircrafts flying overhead) by the sea and away from residential areas. Took some innocent shots of the skyline and sunset before retrieving the drone. Before realising it, two uniformed enforcement officers turned up and started a formal investigation. Even though they were relatively friendly, the process itself was very stressful and unnerving, especially when I was told offenders of the rules could face up to $50k fine and even go to prison!!!
I want to urge every drone hobbyist to be extremely cautious when flying in Singapore. The government there really doesn't kid around about this! SG is a beautiful place for a flight, with stunning landmarks and cityscapes (but only if you adhere to the local rules). Given how affordable and popular drones are becoming, I really hope the SG government could also step up their effort in providing clearer, more visible signs and instructions in public areas. There are already robust warnings about anti-social behaviours and potential suspicious activities in public spaces, such as smoking, drinking/eating on public transport, camping on beaches, swimming in the sea and even being in possession of durian fruits—why not make drone rules just as a little more obvious? It could save so many people, especially short-term visitors from the kind of anxiety and stress I’m now going through and save the local authority lots of time and resources from administering the rules.
Fly with discipline, because the consequences of not doing so are far more serious than you might think!
Go on Civil Aviation Authority Singapore (CAAS)'s website and apply for registration and check where/how high you can fly your drone before taking it out for a spin! Apparently, Singapore has rigorous rules about this and enforces them diligently. However, as per my personal observation, there are NO obvious signs in public spaces to tell you whether UAVs are allowed. That's how I was tripped over: I looked for warning signs and found none. Chose a very open and clear space (with no aircrafts flying overhead) by the sea and away from residential areas. Took some innocent shots of the skyline and sunset before retrieving the drone. Before realising it, two uniformed enforcement officers turned up and started a formal investigation. Even though they were relatively friendly, the process itself was very stressful and unnerving, especially when I was told offenders of the rules could face up to $50k fine and even go to prison!!!
I want to urge every drone hobbyist to be extremely cautious when flying in Singapore. The government there really doesn't kid around about this! SG is a beautiful place for a flight, with stunning landmarks and cityscapes (but only if you adhere to the local rules). Given how affordable and popular drones are becoming, I really hope the SG government could also step up their effort in providing clearer, more visible signs and instructions in public areas. There are already robust warnings about anti-social behaviours and potential suspicious activities in public spaces, such as smoking, drinking/eating on public transport, camping on beaches, swimming in the sea and even being in possession of durian fruits—why not make drone rules just as a little more obvious? It could save so many people, especially short-term visitors from the kind of anxiety and stress I’m now going through and save the local authority lots of time and resources from administering the rules.
Fly with discipline, because the consequences of not doing so are far more serious than you might think!
