š In this blog post weāll share all drone law links & known regulation around recreational & commercial drone use in Oman (Muscat). Give a š at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in our Oman Drone Discussion Group. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Recreational vs commercial drone use in Oman
Oman differentiates commercial & recreational drone uses. Recreational use is strictly forbidden, however for commercial purposes, you may ask for a permission š
šØ For the moment, drone use is under the responsibility of the Authority for Civil AviationĀ (PACA) , they can be contacted via:
Email: info@paca.gov.om
Phone: (+968) 243 544 33
Can I travel with my drone to Oman?
šØ Oman airports (Muscat) seems quite tolerant for their bag checks and it doesn't seem to hard to go through without being asked to open them. A couple of bloggers mentioned they were able to pass, despite having their bag under x-ray but be aware that your drone is still not supposedly welcome if you're a foreigner &/or do not have a permit to fly your drone in Oman. Customs could keep it at the airport until your return. If your drone gets found:
upon arrival, it will be confiscated and stored in your arrival airport, if you want to retrieve it you can do such by departing from the same airport & paying a storage fee
upon departure (from Oman), it will be ceased & you might face heavier sanctions as you imported illegally a drone in the county.
ā If you're only transiting in the Muscat airport, you should be absolutely fine.
How to retrieve my drone at Oman airport customs?
First things first, to be on the safe side you should declare it upon arrival to avoid your further complication upon your departure time if caught then.
If your drone gets kept at customs, you will need to return from the same airport as they've essentially stored your drone upon your return.
When your stay is about to end, ring ahead the airport's customs to alert them from your return time so they are aware of you drone pick up.
On your flight day, allow some extra time in case they 'forgot' about it or there are further documents to complete to retrieve your drone at Oman airport customs
šØ Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
š” Smart! Get your drone batteries' firecase today and make sure you're complying with aviation safety rules.
Where can I fly my drone in Oman?
šØ Do not fly your drone for recreational use if you do not have a permit. If you are undertaking a flight for commercial use, your flight path will have been defined when applying for the permit (see below for more info).
š” Smart! Pack some spare drone batteries, you never know how close is the next power plug overseas. Also make sure you have a travel adaptor for Oman.
Drone Commercial Use in Oman
ā Oman allows corporations to fly a drone in the country as long as you completed the application form 033 & received an approval from it. But first things first, to be eligible, you will need to be at least 18 years old to apply.
How to obtain my permit to fly my drone in Oman?
ā The process is quite straightforward as you will need to download complete the form 033 which is available here. To complete it you will need:
your full personal details (join a copy of your passport) & any qualification to operate a drone you might have
the full specs of your drone & the flight path/area/zone requiring
the confirmation of awareness of any personal or governmental entity involved int he filmed areas
šØ It seems that you will need an insurance but best is to check with PACA directly as they've mentioned "in future" for this part on their website.
š The average required time to provide the service depends on your filming locations and the completeness of your permit application form. But you will need to obtain your permit at least 2 weeks prior arriving in Oman.
š² There is a fee involved but this seems to be on a case by case basis so we're unaware of the total costs here.
ā You can also renew your permit using the same form.
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Oman?
The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such. Local authorities however specified that it could go as high as 3 years of jail time.
ā The excellent news is that once you're there and got the authorisations, you can start flying above Oman's awesome landscapes & create videos like this one:
ā Please leave a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Oman! Have fun and safe flight! #oman #regulation #law #laws #legislation #illegal
š” You're a local, have a question or want to share a travel experience? Head to our Oman Drone Discussion Group
Disclaimer: Although greatĀ care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is the readerās responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authoritiesĀ for needed information about local drone regulations.
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Source
Authority for Civil AviationĀ (PACA)
Other resource
Permit/Renewal to fly a drone in Oman (Form 033)
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