To owners of unmanned aerial vehicles

To owners of unmanned aerial vehicles

August 22, 2023

An unmanned aerial vehicle is an aircraft without a crew on board. This includes drones, multicopters, quadcopters, and similar aircraft.

An unmanned aerial vehicle is an aircraft without a crew on board. This includes drones, multicopters, quadcopters, and similar aircraft. They are constantly evolving, their technological sophistication is increasing, while the cost is significantly decreasing. And, as a consequence, aircraft have become widely used by citizens.

If a drone belongs to the class of model aircraft, then the Belarusian legislation imposes the following requirements on the user of this model aircraft:

— to use the model aircraft at an altitude not exceeding 100 meters from the ground (water) surface;

— not to use within zones prohibited for the use of model aircraft;

— not to use in cases determined by the Security Service of the President of the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the Law of 08.05.2009 N 16-Z;

— to apply legible marking (resistant to precipitation) on a visible part of the model aircraft (weighing more than 0.5 kg);

— to comply with the operating rules of the model aircraft and fulfill the safety requirements provided by its manufacturer;

— to take all possible measures (up to and including ceasing the use of the model aircraft) in case of a threat of harm to the life, health, and (or) property of citizens.

Violation of the rules for the use of model aircraft entails administrative liability in the form of a fine (for an individual - up to 20 basic units, and for a legal entity - up to 50 basic units).
Liability for repeated commission of the same offense within a year - a fine: for an individual from 10 to 50 basic units, for a legal entity - from 20 to 100 basic units.

To register an unmanned aerial vehicle in the State Register of Civil Aircraft of the Republic of Belarus, a citizen must submit to the Department of Aviation of the Ministry of Transport - an application, a copy of the type certificate of the civil aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles with a maximum takeoff weight.

seven kilograms or more, copies of documents confirming the legality of ownership, a copy of the acceptance certificate (if available), a technical inspection report.

           To officially operate a registered unmanned aerial vehicle ("drone") in the Republic of Belarus, its owner must submit an application for the use of airspace of the Republic of Belarus to the center of the Unified Air Traffic Management System. There are some exceptions for unregistered "drones". Unmanned aerial vehicles not registered in the prescribed manner are permitted to fly only within the boundaries of established danger zones. Thus, the only places where users of unregistered "drones" can fly are danger zones. In this case, legally flying unregistered "drones" in danger zones also requires the user to submit applications.

Aerial photography is the photographic and video recording of the Earth's surface and objects on it in all areas of the optical spectrum, using a camera (video camera) mounted on a stabilized platform of an aircraft, flying in airspace, with the captured image recorded on any information storage medium. Flights for the purpose of aerial photography are carried out with the permission of the General Staff of the Armed Forces for the airspace user. Obtaining this permission is practically free of charge and is carried out promptly. Permission for aerial photography is not required if the camera or video camera is not mounted on a stabilized platform on the "drone", then the capture of photographic or video recordings from them will not be considered aerial photography in the context of the Rules. This statement is also valid if the "drone" user does not intend to record the captured photo or video image on any information storage medium. In such cases, permission from the General Staff of the Armed Forces is not required, whether it is an model aircraft or an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Violations in the conduct of aerial photography entail administrative liability in accordance with Article 18.35 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. When using model aircraft in zones prohibited for model aircraft, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles in prohibited zones in violation of the established procedure, for their owners, in addition to

negative consequences may arise in the form of loss (damage) of their aircraft due to the use of physical force, special means, weapons, combat and special equipment by military personnel (employees) of military formations, internal affairs bodies, and employees of paramilitary security services against them in accordance with Decree No. 215 of 05.06.2019. In such cases, the cost of model aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles will not be reimbursed to their owners.

 

Acting Head of the Department

of Public Order Protection and Prevention

Glubokoye District Department of Internal Affairs                                                 

D.V. Gribun