discussion / Drones  / 16 April 2019

Drone flight in Indonesia

Groups

Hi all,

I am looking for any information on obtaining a drone permit to fly a drone in Indonesia. The drone is a HeavyLift 178 Wingcopter drone,with sensors:

1. To my understanding, it is possible to fly a drone in Indonesia under 150m, without a license. I was hoping that someone in the WILDLABS community might be able to help me understand if the activities we would like to use the drone for can be done below 150m. The activities are:

  • Monitoring forest and land fires
  • Aerial verification of village and concession border mapping
  • Mapping vegetation structure
  • Canopy cover surveys and biomass stock monitoring
  • Monitoring illegal logging encroachment activities and land cover change
  • Monitoring of tiger andrey migration
  • Mapping and monitoring tiger habitat connectivity

 

2. What is the process and cost of obtaining an Indonesian drone license?

3. What is the process and cost of obtaining an Indonesian pilot license?

 

Thanks so much, any help in getting this information or suggestion of how I could get it will be much appreciated!

 

Sophie Kirklin

Project Liason Officer-KELOLA Sendang

Conservation Programmes, ZSL

 




Hi Sophie,

The best thing would be to get in contact with the Department of Civil Aviation in the Indonesian state you're working in. You're right that you can fly without a permit for at low altitude in most places, but there may be diferent restrictions if the drone is used for research purposes so its worth checking. I received a license for drone work in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) and they mainly wanted to know the drone specs, activities, flight coordinates, dates and if possible, times. The only restriction they gave us was to fly below 300 m,

There is usually a lot of back and forth between departments about who is ultimately responsible but they should be able to get it processed,  as there are groups in Kalimantan using drones pretty regularly. Please let me know if you have any issues or need any other info.

Best wishes,

Sol

Hi Sophie,

Sorry- I only just saw your reply!

It took about 3 months to get it through the department of civil aviation, but this doesn't mean much, because the Indonesian system may be pretty different. It cost 250RM (£50) for each drone. 

Cheers,

Sol