Hey Every One,

I am planning to do a lot of international travel with my Inspire 1 and I have found a lot of conflicting information on the web about different countries and their policies on bringing drones through customs. I  thought it would be nice to have a thread on here for people to tell stories both positive and negative about dealing with customs in different countries. I hope we all avoid a confiscation and I think this could help!

So If you have done some international travel with your drone, let us know...

Where you flew out of:

Where you flew in to:

Did you need any special permits (if so what kind):

How easy or difficult was the customs process:

Would recomend any one try a similar trip:  

Safe Flying,
Colton

Houston > Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama all had no problems at all,  No questions, other than curiosity about what it is and how much it costs.

My only concern was whether United would allow it as a carry on.  They did for those trips, but rather than take that chance again, I've purchased a hard case and will check it from now on.

No problem in fyling it on beaches, at hotels, and near cities.  However, we are VERY considerate of other people, privacy, noise, and time of day -- which, in my opinion, goes a long way towards positive public perception of these vehicles.

-Mike

I havent Travel a lot with my drones, but I have read that if you get a freelance press pass I would get help you a lot.

https://www.unitedstatespressagency.com/en/register-now.html
http://uspressassociation.org/e1 ... /easyshop.php?cat.1

I travelled to Brasil with my Inspire-1. The Inspire-1 went as checked baggage in a hard case. The batteries in fire proof envelopes in my cary-on luggage. I flew with Delta and local Brasilian airlines and had no problems.

I travelled from Sydney to Bangkok then Bangkok to UdonThani and back again with 6 TB47 in lipo safe bags and controller in a carry on backpack and the inspire in a custom made garment carry on bag over my shoulder
All this done with out one question from either Aussie or Thai customs

Anyone flown into the US?   I'll be travelling from Sydney in August and am thinking about taking it.   I might take the P3 instead to save on space and weight...

Brussels > Milan Linate and back without problem.

Everything except the battery in checked luggage (the HPRC custom Inspire flight case).
TB47 in carry-on backpack, inside LiPo bag (only had 1 at that time). Had to take it out at the Brussels security check, went up the chain to a hazardous goods supervisor, got the ok after inspection.
Afterwards we had a chat with that supervisor, he confirmed that - for the moment (!) - it's ok to bring them on board (no limitation on amount). Noted that this might change in the future. Or not.

My feeling was that the battery was actually less secure in the backpack. Potentially easier bumped or inadvertently compressed in the overhead luggage compartment.
=> Now looking for a small travel (hard/flight-)case that can securely hold 4-6 batteries. Should be able to double as a battery holder for charging in the car while driving around, because I found it a bit of a challenge to keep the battery both secured against bumps and ventilated for charging between locations.

jimhare Posted at 2015-5-16 08:19
Anyone flown into the US?   I'll be travelling from Sydney in August and am thinking about taking it ...

Jim, you should be fine.  Coming back from DR (to the states) there was zero issue.

will@willbarnwe Posted at 2015-5-16 22:58
Jim, you should be fine.  Coming back from DR (to the states) there was zero issue.

That's great, thanks Will!

Hi Colton and DJI Community,

My name is Mauro and I am flying a DJI Phantom Vision 2 and I am currently living in Cape Town, South Africa.
Apparently from July 2015 the new regulations for civil aviation will drastically limit the usage of Drones here.
What is not clear till now (as many things here in ZA) is which type of drones are considered  "TOY" therefore utilized for recreational/fun activities.
In this specific category is not necessary to have a license (to be renewed every 12 months) to fly a drone.
Having said this I am going to upgrade either to P3 or the Inspire 1 but my decision will depend on this regulation: P3 and I1 are considered toys?
If anybody might have a clearer picture or a better understanding of what the law states, please share with the community.

- "Travel with Drone"I have emailed DJI asking if they would be keen to create / publish a page where, filtered per nation, we are able to find:
- authorities to contact (if any)
- Informations
- Law
- protected flying zones (if any)


Hope it makes sense.
Take care everybody and keep enjoying being creative!

Caribean > Germany > South America and back to the USA... Drone checked in hard case. Batteries on my carry on (Lipo safe bags) No question Ask from anyone at any of the airports..

Does any one have any Stories about flying in to the Bahamas?

Munich - Madrid - Santa Cruz - and back.

I packed the Insp1 into the original paperbox with two plywood pieces on both sides . Checked in.
With 3 batteries  4700 mAh which  is under the 100Wh each - no problem.

I had also an EVO800 with two 10 000 mAh batteries checked in, also no problem. But that was good luck I guess.

Los Angeles to Ecuador and back, pre-check was no problems.   Los Angeles to Buenos Aires and back no problems.  TSA did swab the batteries on the BA flight but i was on my way with minimal delay.  Kind of glad they do swabs batteries.

jimhare Posted at 2015-5-16 08:19
Anyone flown into the US?   I'll be travelling from Sydney in August and am thinking about taking it ...

Jim - I live in Los Angeles. If you have any issues I'll gladly lend you my dual controller unit. The work you've put into the tutorials and the help you've given all of us would be payment enough in my book!

Colton - shameless question but, are you guys hiring

One I1 and its owner willing to capture epic imagery and travel!

michaelanthony. Posted at 2015-6-3 15:15
Jim - I live in Los Angeles. If you have any issues I'll gladly lend you my dual controller unit.  ...

That's extremely kind of you michaelanthony!     I'm convinced it won't come to that as people seem to be travelling every day with no issues.

I'll probably bring the P3 rather than Inspire as it would easily be carry on, unless they bounce it off into cargo...

Mauro82 Posted at 2015-5-30 00:59
Hi Colton and DJI Community,

My name is Mauro and I am flying a DJI Phantom Vision 2 and I am curre ...

Hi Mauro82,

You may get all your answers from this site:

south-africa-18-myths-about-the-new-regulations-for-drones

Mauro82 Posted at 2015-5-30 00:59
Hi Colton and DJI Community,

My name is Mauro and I am flying a DJI Phantom Vision 2 and I am curre ...

Hi Mauro82,

You may get all your answers from this site:

south-africa-18-myths-about-the-new-regulations-for-drones

Mauro82 Posted at 2015-5-30 00:59
Hi Colton and DJI Community,

My name is Mauro and I am flying a DJI Phantom Vision 2 and I am curre ...

Hi Mauro82

You may find all answers to your questions on this site:

south-africa-18-myths-about-the-new-regulations-for-drones

michaelanthony. Posted at 2015-6-3 15:17
Colton - shameless question but, are you guys hiring

One I1 and its owner willing to capture ep ...

Thanks a lot guys! I'm off to the Bahamas tomorrow and hopefully will have some good videos for you when I get back!  

... not hiring yet but if all goes well maybe in a few years!

Safe flying every one!

USA~China
China~Japan
China~Korea
China~Tibet autonomous region.... (Permit)

Been flying my Phantom 2 into and out of Greece and Turkey from the UK on BA and Thomas Cook without problems. Security have always shown an interest when I've taken it into the cabin but I think it was pure curiosity. I use an Action Cases case and I've not had any disasters.

Just got Back from circumnavigating the globe and traveled in and out of many countries with no problems! LA --> Auckland , Auckland --> Hong Kong , Hong Kong--> Dubai, Dubai security told me I should check the batteries but had no problems getting in other then a mention and 10 min swabbing and security check. Dubai--> Amsterdam and finally Dusseldorf --> Miami. All in all checking the inspire on in the hard case and carrying on the batteries was no problem at all!  Here is a video from on of the most epic locations in New Zeland! More from my travels to come.

tony27nine.yaho Posted at 2015-6-9 10:24
Been flying my Phantom 2 into and out of Greece and Turkey from the UK on BA and Thomas Cook without ...

Hi tony27nine,

My name is Mauro and I fly a P3A. I will be in Istanbul end of September and would like to take aerial videos/photos of Santa Sofia, bosporus strait and Istanbul gulf.
Can you tell me a bit more about the local regulations please?
- do i need a permit to fly?
- who can i talk to or ask as many questions?
- is there a risk to be put in jail and having my drone confiscated?

Many thanks in advance for your help, maybe if you are in Istanbul we can catch up.
Cheers,
Mauro

You can check this forum..
http://multirotorforums.com/thre ... -permissions.24262/

http://web.shgm.gov.tr/doc5/sht-iha.pdf

Recently brought my P3 from Australia to San Francisco with no trouble at all, not even a question or second look.

I travelled to Nicaragua last November (2014) and they actually confiscated my Phantom 2 (in the hard case) at the airport.  They also went through the rest of my gear and were trying to keep that as well until I got a permit.  I got them to let me take the gear without getting a permit, but the Phantom was a lost cause.  They said quadcopters aren't allowed into the country.  I was told I could come pick it up before I left.  I was a little worried I wouldn't get it back, but sure enough, I came a few hours early before my flight departed, paid $50 or so as a "storage fee" for them keeping my drone there all week, and they escorted me to ticketing where they ensured the drone was checked and on it's way to the plane, before leaving me.

I'm travelling to Costa Rica in a week, and have the new Inspire Pro X5 and hoping I have better luck there!  Anyone else have experience with taking their drone to Costa Rica?

Traveled to Biarritz France, and Spain. No trouble.

It would be useful if the dimensions (without propellers) and packing weights of the drones were given in the specs. Those of us who travel internationally need to know these things. For example, cabin baggage is limited to 8Kg and certain dimensions on the Africa-Europe routes.

zeitlinger@gmx. Posted at 2015-6-2 22:38
Munich - Madrid - Santa Cruz - and back.

I packed the Insp1 into the original paperbox with two ply ...

It was good luck. You could have brought the plane down, and killed yourself and everyone in it.
The rules are not there to make life difficult; there are good technical reasons for them.

Travelled to: Costa Rica, Jordan, Dubai, Turkey.

Sorry hit the wrong button. Airports no problem.  Turkey was flying over an Pammukkala- police came and politely asked to stop.  Jordan at Petra very nasty.  Police came and asked if I had a permit.  I stated that I asked numerous people about any regulations and no one knew of any objections.  They took me to 3 different police stations and then there local CIA office.  In summary there were very nice, no fine , no confiscation.  Luckily I had my wife and kids with me, otherwise it may have been a different outcome.  Dubai pulled me aside in Customs and wrote down the serial number of the drone and my id info. So, overall not to terrible other than Jordan.  My observation now is to quickly film, quickly pack up and move on. On another note going to New Zealand next month- any suggestions.

Has anyone flown with the TB48 batteries?

mfa Posted at 2015-10-27 09:43
Sorry hit the wrong button. Airports no problem.  Turkey was flying over an Pammukkala- police came  ...

I filmed  all over New Zeland, the only issue I had was agresive seaguls in Auckland. No issues flying with the drone... shameless video plug!  

dopeytree Posted at 2015-10-27 13:23
Has anyone flown with the TB48 batteries?

Yes you must carry them on.

I'll fly to US from Milan and I wish to bring my P3P with me.  As non resident citizen in US, FAA does't allow to obtain registration code. How can I do to register my drone?
Thanks for help.

In the Bahamas they won't allow them into the country. If you already own one and its in the country already you are good it just have to be registered by Feb 1 2016.

Cool, I plan to take mine P3 to Honduras in July but as a carry on bag.

giorgiorocco Posted at 2015-12-24 16:04
I'll fly to US from Milan and I wish to bring my P3P with me.  As non resident citizen in US, FAA do ...

When you come to the US, you can access the FAA page and register. It won't work from another country, only from within the US.