Drone Laws in Papua New Guinea

Verfasst von Francis Markert | Last update on 07.08.2026 | 1 Kommentare

In this article, you will find the drone laws in Papua New Guinea.

You have to register your drone in Papua New Guinea. Beyond that, you do not need an additional authorisation as long as the drone weighs no more than 10 kilograms and you stick to the standard conditions. That applies to private and commercial flights alike.

Overview: Drone rules in Papua New Guinea

More about the rules

Part 101 and Part 102 of the Civil Aviation Rules are the relevant ones for drone pilots. Part 101 applies to most travellers. The following requirements have to be met for it:

• The drone weighs no more than 10 kilograms. Between 10 and 25 kilograms, construction and operation have to be signed off and taken responsibility for by a body approved by the authority; above 25 kilograms you need the approval of the Director of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
• The flight is not hazardous to people, property or other aircraft: do not fly over populated areas or in poor visibility, keep at least 30 meters (100 feet) from anyone not involved in the flight, make sure the drone is airworthy, and be physically and mentally fit, so not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other intoxicants.
• Flights take place during the day only. At night, only indoor flights and so-called shielded operations are allowed.
• Manned aircraft are given right of way.
• The drone stays within visual line of sight (still visible with the naked eye, without any aids).
• The maximum altitude of 120 meters (400 feet) is observed.
• The pilot knows the airspace and possible restrictions, which means being able to read aeronautical charts.
• A distance of at least 5 nautical miles (around 9 kilometers) is kept from the boundary of an aerodrome.
• Before a flight in controlled airspace, clearance is obtained from air traffic control, PNG Air Services Ltd.
• Before flights in special-use airspace, for example military areas, permission is obtained in advance.
• When flying over people, everyone involved has given their consent.
• When flying over private property, the owners or the people living there have given their consent.
• Only one drone is flown at a time, and never over incident sites of the fire service, the police or emergency services.

Without a pilot qualification, you may only fly if you meet all of these conditions and stay more than 5 nautical miles from the nearest aerodrome boundary. Closer than that, you need a qualification from an approved body, supervision by someone holding that qualification, or a pilot licence under Part 61.

There is one narrowly defined exception to the aerodrome distance: it does not apply to so-called shielded operations. Part 101 defines those as a flight within 100 meters of a natural or man-made obstacle and below its top edge. You have to stay outside the aerodrome grounds, and there has to be an obstacle between you and the aerodrome that would physically stop the drone if it came to that.

FPV flights are allowed, but only with a separate observer who keeps the drone in sight at all times without any aids and is trained accordingly.

Going above 120 meters (400 feet) gets complicated. The flight is then only permitted if it is carried out by a body approved by the authority or you hold an authorisation under Part 102, if it takes place in class F airspace inside a designated danger area, and if a NOTAM was requested at least 24 hours in advance. That request has to state the name, address and phone number of the operator, the location, date, time and duration of the flight, and the planned maximum altitude.

If you cannot meet the list of requirements, Part 102 of the CARs probably applies to you. It requires you to apply for an Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certificate, which costs a fee.

Have you already travelled in Papua New Guinea with your drone? Leave us a comment below this post and help everyone who is planning the same thing.

We have researched the listed drone regulations for Papua New Guinea to the best of our knowledge. We cannot guarantee the correctness of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, contact the competent aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also ask the embassy in your home country for further information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Papua New Guinea!