š In this blog post weāll share all drone law links & known rules about recreational & commercial drone use in the Seychelles (Victoria). Give a š at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in the Seychelles Group Discussion. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our knowledge & does not replace official sources & your research.
š„° This content has been read and back checked by the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority on the 22/06/2021
Recreational vs commercial drone use in the Seychelles
The Seychelles do not seem to differentiate commercial & recreational drone use. However, drone use in the country of islands is subject to restrictions & a code of conduct.
ā The use of drones in the Seychelles is under the responsibility of the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) & they can be contacted via:
Email: drones@scaa.sc
Phone: (+248) 4384271
Social Medias: @seychellescaa š
Can I travel to the Seychelles with my drone?
ā Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within the Seychelles & Victoria airport as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
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 the Seychelles?
ā The Seychelles are like no other country (well maybe a little like The Maldives), lots of little islands all around which most are reached by seaplane. This makes it a little trickier to fly your drone safely as basically most islands will have their own seaport. The Seychelles built a sweet map showing all the airports and seaports which can be seen below.
Seychelles Drone Fly Map
šØ Do not fly without a permit in the flight path of Seychelles International Airport or near Praslin airport. Be aware that some resorts and islands have also completely banned the use of drones; usually for the tranquillity of their other guests & to protect their bird sanctuaries š¦ To name some:
Ile Therese
Maia Resort
Cap Lazare
Kempinski Resort
Valmer Resort
Saint-Anne Antenna
Saint- Anne Resort
Long Island
Cerf Island Resort & helipad
Lemuria Resort
Raffles
Chateau de Feuilles
La Digue Helipad
š² National / Marine parks & reserves might be on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities. š³
š Be aware that most tourists going to the Seychelles are usually paying a high price for tranquillity & relaxation time. Reading forums, several guests (understandably) ask for peace whilst in this little paradise on š & you will need to consider this fact while there.
š” Smart! Water glare is a killer when flying above Seychelles' coastal waters, make sure you have a lens filter before heading to these beautiful islands.
Recreational & commercial drone use in the Seychelles
ā You will need to obtain permission prior taking off with your drone. If your drone weights more than 200g, you will also need to register it. Additionally, there are also rules & a code of conduct to follow for all operators:
With this in mind, you must fly:
at a maximum altitude of 50 m above the ground.
within sight at all times & only during daylight.
only above approved lands so must have the authorisation of the owner for e.g.
fly 15 km away (this covers almost the whole islands š¤) from airports, heliport, seaports & give priority to all other categories of aircraft. If you see an aircraft during your flight, land immediately.
away from congested areas, crowds, towns and infrastructure (telecoms, fuel, etc.)
fly 300 m away from any other vehicle, vessel or structure
fly 50 m away from any other person & respect individual privacy (note this limit lowers to 30 m during take off & landing times).
fly avoiding sensitive areas including resorts, government & military facilities.
without hurting, harassing or carrying any animals or objects. without carrying or dropping anything from your drone.
flyaway from a fire or any site where emergencies are required as you could interrupt their operation and delay their intervention.
šØ Beware that flying above private property without consent is a serious breach of privacy in the Seychelles, always seek approval of owners beforehand.
š¤ Note, outside the 15 km airport restriction flight zone, you can fly your drone up to 609 m altitude (2,000 feet) which is the highest legal limit we're aware of among all countries.. But looking at the Seychelles' map, you can do this only in a very little piece of land as 15 km restricted zone covers almost the whole country's islands.
ā The good news is that you can apply for exceptions from all of these (very) restrictive rules.
How to register my drone in the Seychelles?
You will need to register (for free) your drone if it weights more than 200 grams. All drone operators are therefore required to register their drones using this link provided on this website and submit to SCAA for processing via this email: drones@scaa.sc
Once done, you will receive a confirmation of the registration from SCAA once the process has been completed.
How to obtain a permit to fly my drone in the Seychelles?
You can apply for a permit by using this link. Once completed, simply send it to drones@scaa.sc with a copy of your ID (passport or National ID card).
ā° Please submit any permit/authorization request at least 72h in advance of your intended flight. Authorisations are free of charge.
14/06/19: Thanks to one of our members, we've received an update of what type of response you will get from the SCAA. Local authorities appreciate when you're able you've done the right thing and you shouldn't be in any troubles if you can prove you've ask for the authorisation.
According to our member's experience, calling Air Traffic Control can be hard as they are quite busy and you will need to make sure you have a local phone with good reception.
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in the Seychelles?
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.
However the SCAA specifies that this could be a combination of one of several:
fine (up to 1,650ā¬)
prison (up to 2 years)
ā The excellent news once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Seychelles' awesome landscapes & create videos like this one:
ā Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in the Seychelles!
š” You're a local, have a question or want to share a travel experience? Head to our Seychelles Drone Discussion Group
Disclaimer: Although great 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 your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone regulations
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Sources
Other Resources
My Seychelles Experience - by Tobias Kiemle
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