DRONES IN MEXICO AND THEIR CURRENT LEGISLATION

To begin with, now drones can only be operated legally during the day.

Until a few years ago, talking or hearing about the use of drones seemed something very far from our reality, but it is increasingly common to go to a public park or certain areas of Mexico City and see these small vehicles overhead.

For this reason, the Secretary of Communications and Transportation (SCT) updated the criteria that regulate the operation. of drones in Mexico. The person in charge of drafting the new regulation for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, which replaces the previous one that dated back to 2010, was the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC).

According to the new regulations, drones will be legally known in Mexico as Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) and will be cataloged according to their weight, differentiating them as RPAS of up to 2 kg (micro RPAS), RPAS of more than 2 and up to 25 kg, and RPAS that exceed that weight.

Among the most outstanding aspects of the new regulation, it stands out:

• Only RPAS that weigh less than two kilograms can be operated without requiring authorization from the DGAC.
• If a drone is used for commercial activities, it must have damage insurance. third parties.
• Recreational drones weighing more than two kilos can only be used within model airplane clubs.
• RPAS weighing more than two kilos for commercial use require authorization from the DGAC.
• To operate drones weighing more than 25 kilograms you must have a pilot's license.
• Regardless of the weight, RPAS can only be used during the day.
• If it is necessary to operate a drone at night, a special permit must be requested.
• RPAS must be operated at least 9.2 kilometers from controlled airports, 3.7 kilometers from uncontrolled aerodromes and 900 meters from heliports.
• They must not drop objects that could cause damage to people or property.
• It is prohibited to use RPAS to transport dangerous goods or illegal substances.
• Drones cannot be operated from moving vehicles.
• Any misuse of the drone is the responsibility of the operator.

In the case of drones weighing less than 2 kilos, the most common, they can only fly at a maximum altitude of 122 meters and cannot fly further than 457 meters from its pilot. They may only fly over crowds at a minimum height of 45 meters.