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DE Drones in Cape Verde
According to the national authority Civil Aviation Agency (AAC), the he use of drones in Cape Verde is legal, as long as the following rules are respected:
- Drone use takes place outside of restricted areas;
- At an altitude of 120 meters (400 feet) or less above the surface;
- The operator must be on site (within 100 meters) and in direct control of the drone;
- Good visibility conditions;
- Drones may not be operated within 2,000 meters of any airport or landing zone, and on aircraft flight paths.
If you want to fly above 120 meters or in places with restrictions, you must download and fill in a form (aeronautical easement form) which must be sent to the agency at least 10 days before starting operations.
Additional conditions for drone flights in Cape Verde
- The operator is responsible for the safe operation of the drone, keeping its distance from any aircraft and property.
- The operator must give priority to passing aircraft and move away from them whenever, for whatever reason, aircraft are exceptionally flying at an altitude close to the drone.
- Pilots must keep their drone in sight at all times and keep its identification lights on;
- You must follow the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the equipment is in good condition;
- The drone pilot is responsible for every flight made.
For more information on the use of drones in the country, see the official website of the Civil Aviation Agency or contact her directly via email info@aac.cv or call +238 260 34 30.
General rules for transporting drones
Ideally, all drones should be carried in hand luggage, considering that the price of drones is high, and often higher than the airlines' reimbursement limit for loss.
According to updating Montreal Conventionairlines are responsible for losses of up to 1288 dollars (US$), known as Special Drawing Rights (SDR) or Special Drawing Rights (SDR). Considering that during international travel, especially if you have connecting flights, luggage can be lost, misplaced or even stolen, avoid checking your drone in your hold luggage.
If you can't bring the drone in your hand luggage, and especially if it's worth more than 1288 dollars (the approximate amount of the maximum SDR that airlines are liable to pay in the event of losses), consider sending by companies such as Fedex, DHL or UPS. The shipment should also be insured for damage or loss.
Drone batteries must be transported in accordance with IATA (International Air Transport Association) and airline regulations. Generally, the lithium batteries in drones are considered lithium-ion batteries, which are considered dangerous and need to be handled with care.
Drone batteries must be carried in hand luggage and never in checked luggage, they are considered "dangerous goods" by airlines and safety rules are extremely strict to avoid possible fire risks. They must be removed from the drone and stored in individual packaging that protects the battery terminals from short-circuiting, such as this one. Lipo Battery Case.
In addition, drone batteries should have an energy charge limited to 30% to 50% of their total capacity, as fully charged or discharged batteries can cause safety problems. It is important to check specific airline and IATA regulations before traveling with a drone and its batteries.
Transporting drones in Cape Verde
After researching and contacting the airline currently operating in Cape Verde, we did not find any specific regulations regarding the transportation of drones in Cape Verde.
From our personal experience, when we fly between the islands, we always carry our drones in hand luggage. For bulky equipment that doesn't fit in the hand luggage compartment, we usually make a request for bulky hand luggage transportation during check-in. In this case, a special tag is placed on the luggage and you must give it to the cabin crew who will place it in a specific place.
Please note that the volume of your equipment may still be greater than that allowed for transport in the cabin, so you should always contact the company before traveling if you have any doubts. You can contact Best Fly Cabo Verde at commercial@cvconnectservices.com, phone +238 350 05 60 (if calling from Cape Verde) or +351 295 401 517 (if you're calling from Portugal).
For boat trips, we always place our equipment nearby and not in the general luggage area, to avoid loss or misplacement. For information on boat routes and regulations, you can contact the company Cape Verde Inter-islands via email info@cvinterilhas.cv or phone +238 350 0330.
Conclusion
In short, using drones in Cape Verde is an exciting activity full of possibilities, but it is important that operators are aware of local rules and regulations to ensure safety and avoid problems. In addition, it is important to respect the contraindications of drone flights, such as flying in restricted areas or in adverse weather conditions. If you are planning to travel with your drone, remember to follow the rules for transporting batteries and equipment. For more information on drone regulation in Cape Verde, contact the Civil Aviation Agency or other relevant local authorities.
Here are some video images shot with a drone by our collaborator Daf Spencer.
DisclaimerThe information on this page is the result of extensive research and our personal experience. However, regulations may be updated by the authorities, and it is the traveler's responsibility to check with the appropriate institutions.