Drones

Guidelines to travel with drones in India

Guidelines to travel with drones in India

Drones are permitted to be carried on domestic flights in India, but there are a few restrictions. Drones have been classified into five sizes under drone regulations:

  • Nano: Drones weighing less than 250 grammes 
  • Micro: Drones weighing 250 grammes to 2 kilogrammes
  • Small: Drones weighing 2 kilogrammes to 25 kilogrammes 
  • Medium: Drones weighing 25 kilogrammes to 150 kilogrammes
  • Drones weighing more than 150kg are considered large.

Travellers can now use small to medium-sized drones on personal excursions to domestic destinations without facing major limitations, according to the civil aviation ministry. Depending on the size, they can be taken as hand luggage or checked luggage. But drone luggage must be reported to the airline company in advance. Drones are allowed as check-in luggage on most major airlines. A drone weighing less than 250 grammes can be checked or carried in the cabin luggage. The batteries, on the other hand, would have to be removed and stored in the cabin luggage.  In the Cabin baggage, any number of backup batteries with a watt-hour (WH) rating of less than 100 can be transported. You can only bring two batteries with a total capacity of more than 100 watts and less than 160 watts. No backup batteries with a capacity of more than 160 watts are permitted. Cargo must be used to ship these.

There is a chance always that lithium in passenger baggage will catch fire owing to handling and transportation. As a result, most airlines let them to travel as in-cabin luggage because the entire staff is trained to handle any fire or smoke in the cabin caused by lithium.

International travellers will need to follow the regulations of other countries.

For further doubts, put up your questions in the comment section below.

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