AACM introduces amendments to the unmanned aircraft operation requirements

The Civil Aviation Authority has completed the amendments to the Air Navigation Regulation of Macau and is approved in the Executive Order No. 43/2021 which is published in today’s Official Gazette No. 40, Series I, with major amendments to the system regulating the unmanned aircraft activities.

In accordance with Article 67 of Part IX and Part XVI of the Air Navigation Regulation of Macau approved by Executive Order No. 43/2021, commencing tomorrow (6 October 2021), anyone who wishes to perform flying activities in Macao must comply with the new requirements of the unmanned aircraft operations. Such requirements include the unmanned aircraft must fly within the height limits, the unmanned aircraft is not allowed to fly above the airspace of the classified “World Heritage Historic buildings”, the unmanned aircraft with minimum operating age, the unmanned aircraft with a total mass exceeding 7 kg must operate under the authority of and in accordance with an UA operator permit and an UA activity permit as well as the third party insurance with the minimum coverage, the application for authorization must be submitted to the Authority in advance if operations go beyond the restrictions as stipulated in the Air Navigation Regulation of Macau and so on. In addition to the above new regulations, operator must notify the Authority before the commencement of the operation of unmanned aircraft with a total mass exceeding 250grams through the “Online Application for drone operation permit” electronic platform, the above regulations will put into effect one month after the announcement of Executive Order No. 43/2021 - “Approves the Air Navigation Regulation of Macau" (5 November 2021).  Please see the following table for a better understanding of the new requirements for the unmanned aircraft activities.

AACM reviews the aviation laws and regulations, standards and requirements in the Air Navigation Regulation of Macau on a periodical basis, and will introduce amendments whenever the need so justifies. AACM implements new amendments or requirements that are aimed at further enhancing aviation safety in order to provide a safe flight environment. The new unmanned aircraft operation requirements which come into effect tomorrow are implemented having considered similar law and practice in the neighbouring areas.

AACM takes the opportunity to highlight that the main objective of the legislation is to ensure aviation safety and to establish a decent clearance environment to guarantee that the living and the traveling of our residents can be protected. It is not the objective to purposely create a means to disturb people from leisure.

Anyone who wishes to read the details of the requirements and the full text of the Air Navigation Regulation of Macau can go to “UAV and Other Flying Activities” under Chapter “Notice to Public” of the AACM website through this link: https://www.aacm.gov.mo/index.php?r=law/fly-activity&id=103&pageid=198.

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The Executive Order No. 43/2021 - “Approves the Air Navigation Regulation of Macau" is published in today’s Official Gazette No. 40, Series I, with major amendments to the system regulating the unmanned aircraft activities.