Drone Laws in Chile

Chile Drone Regulations

According to Chile’s national aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Chile (DGAC), flying a drone is legal in Chile, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

If you’d like to contact the DGAC directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: dirdgac@dgac.cl / +56 2 2439 2000

Why fly a drone in Chile? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Chile

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Chile.

• To fly a drone in Chile your drone must be registered and you must obtain authorization from the DGAC. See the section below to learn more.
• You may only fly one UAV at a time.
• Do not fly at night or in bad weather conditions.
• Do not fly your drone past your line of sight or more than 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the operator.
• Do not fly higher than 130 meters (426 feet).
• You must fly at least 20 meters (65 feet) over and 30 meters (98 feet) away from people not participating in the drone’s operation.
• Do not fly in firefighting areas.
• Do not fly within 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of an airport.
• Do not fly in sensitive areas such as government or military facilities.
• Do not fly in Torres del Paine National Park and other areas marked as a “no drone zone.”

For more information on Chile’s drone laws, see this document created by the DGAC.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Chile? Send us an email at support@uavcoach.com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Chile can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Registration and Licensing Requirements for Flying a Drone in Chile

Registration

Anyone flying a drone in Chile must obtain a registration card and operating authorization from the DGAC, as well as RPAS remote pilot credentials.

To register, you must provide the following information to the DGAC:

• Manufacturer and production country
• Brand, model, and serial number
• Type of motorization
• Maximum take-off weight.
• Details of built-in technical equipment
• Autonomous flight functions
• 10 x 15 cm colored photo (jpeg format) of the UAV
• Demonstration of the operation of the emergency parachute.

After submitting this information you will receive a registration card, which you should always keep with you when flying. This registration will be valid for 12 months and then must be renewed.

Licensing

To obtain a license from the DGAC authorizing you to fly, you must:

• Have reached 18 years of age.
• Submit an affidavit before a notary to have received theoretical and practical instruction regarding the drone model to be flown.
• Pass a written exam on DAN 151, DAN 91 and Meteorology and Aerodynamics. The minimum qualification to pass will be 75%
• The credentials will be valid for 12 months and then need to be revalidated.

Learn more about registration and licensing requirements in this document issued by the DGAC.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Chile? Here you go: