Singapore

CAAS Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

CAAS Civil Aviation Authority
Application for Aerial Activities (en)
Frequently Asked Questions (en)

Singapore UAV laws

Overview

(Site in EN)

The Unmanned Aircraft (Public Safety and Security) Act 2015 came into force on 1 June 2015. With this Act and the amendments to the Air Navigation Order (ANO), an enhanced regulatory and permit framework for unmanned aircraft operations in Singapore has been put in place. The enhanced framework:

a. prohibit the carriage of dangerous materials by unmanned aircraft, to ensure public safety and to prevent any likelihood of such materials falling to the ground and causing injury to persons or causing death or damage to property;

b. prohibit the discharge of a substance by the unmanned aircraft unless a permit has been issued;

c. require operators to obtain a permit to fly or operate an unmanned aircraft that weighs more than 7kg in total weight (i.e. weight of laden aircraft) and for certain types of operation;

d. prohibit an unmanned aircraft from overflying or taking photographs of a Protected Area;

e. prohibit an unmanned aircraft from entering a Special Event Area unless a permit is issued;

f. provide the necessary enforcement powers to deter malicious or dangerous unmanned aircraft activities over security-sensitive locations and Special Event Areas, which may threaten public safety and security;

g. require operators to obtain a permit to fly or operate an unmanned aircraft within 5km of an aerodrome regardless of height, or above 200 feet beyond 5km of an aerodrome, or within a Restricted or Danger area.

Apply for permission for Aerial Work CAAS processes the application of all permits for unmanned aircraft operations. CAAS will process and coordinate with other relevant agencies on the evaluation of applications for any permit, and respond to the applicants on the outcome of their application.

It will take a minimum of 2 weeks to process an application depending on the complexity of the application.

Operation of unmanned aircraft over the large crowds, such major events, could pose a threat to public safety and security. It is an offence to fly an unmanned aircraft into the Special Event Area or operate an unmanned aircraft that disrupts, interferes with, delays or obstructs the conduct of a special event, or any activity associated with the special event, whether the unmanned aircraft is within or outside of the gazetted Special Event Area.

Breaking the rules

Breaches of the regulations on unmanned aircraft will be investigated by police officers or safety inspectors authorised by CAAS or auxiliary police officers authorised by SPF and CAAS. If the unmanned aircraft is flying in contravention of the regulations, the authorised officers can order the operator of the unmanned aircraft to (a) end the flight; (b) land the unmanned aircraft; or (c) fly the unmanned aircraft in a specified manner, if the unmanned aircraft is being operated in a manner that poses a serious and an imminent risk to the safety of the public. The enforcers are also given powers to assume control of an unmanned aircraft in order to fly the aircraft or to end the flight of the aircraft, or land it safely in the fastest practicable way and detain the unmanned aircraft or any component of an unmanned aircraft system. Offenders may be liable to prosecution.