Drone regulations in Russia
Last update on 31.01.2018 | 6 Kommentare
In Russia, drones must be registered (www.favt.ru) when they weigh more than 30 kilograms. In the case of lighter drones, the duty to register has been dropped in summer 2016.
Maximum flight altitude: So far I have not heard of any altitude restrictions for drones in Russia.
Maximum horizontal distance and FPV: Currently unknown to me. However, you should fly your drone only in sight.
Compulsory insurance: A drone insurance is currently not required in Russia. However, I strongly recommend that you only fly with a corresponding security a copter.
Maximum take-off weight (MTOW): From 30 kilograms, Multicopter must be registered at the FAVT.
Distance to airports: Currently, no information is available to me. Please, keep enough distance nevertheless to Russian airfields.
Other safe distances: Currently no information is available to me.
Flight bans: Flights are not allowed on the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square.
Time of operations: Currently, I have no information.
Specific regulations: For drone flights in Russian national parks, you need permission from the park administration.
Regulations for commercial pilots: As far as I know, there is no difference between the purpose of use of drones in Russia.
Helpful links: Federal law 291-FZ
We have researched the listed drone regulations for Russia to the best of our knowledge. We can not guarantee the correctness of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, please contact the competent aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also ask the embassy in your country for further information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your copter in Russia!
As it is now in Moscow, there is no problem flying a small drone (Mavic). Police has no objections with me operating a drone during Moscow Marathon event.
But there is one more problem: there exist serious GPS jamming near the Kremlin and other places in the center of Moscow. Your drone can fly away or think it is suddenly placed in no-fly zone and perform an emergency landing. I would definitely not recommend trying to fly drone in the center of Moscow. In other places it’s ok, welcome 🙂 I would recommend doing that in summer, for weather reasons 🙂
Where on the (www.favt.ru) website do I actually register my drone?
Thanks Dmitry!
I’ read that the laws were changed in Russia in July 2017 and was worried about bringing a drone into Russia.
Do I have to register the drone if I’m not flying it in Russia? (Only bringing it through the country for a few days?) I came across this…
“Currently, UAV registration is regulated by Federal Law No 291 of 3 July, 2016 On Amending the Aviation Code of the Russian Federation.” According to amendments to Article 33, unmanned civilian vehicles weighing between 250 grams and 30 kg must be registered. This regulation came into effect on 5 July 2017, which means that all flying equipment from drones to radio controlled toy helicopters and planes must now be registered”
New regulations have been applied recently, which basically restricts any drones to operate over major cities like Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. Fines have been raised 10x, and now for breaking any new regulations you will get a minimum fine of 20000-50000 rubles (roughly ranging from 300 to 750$ depending on severity) as private person.
Now, to operate drone, you must:
a) Register it
b) Have insurance policy papers for your drone with you
c) Have written permissions from federal security service and joint staff of Russian Federation, in some cases these regulators may ask you to provide a special license for performing cartography-related work
d) Any drone lighter than 30kg must have registration ID and additional permissions for flights from any organization or municipality you plan to fly over
e) In 24 hours before you start flight you must give your flight plan to local air traffic control center
f) In 2 hours before takeoff you need to contact air traffic control dispatch and let them know you are going to perform flight soon
g) After take-off you need to contact dispatch once again and tell them you successfully started your flight
h) After flight you need to contact dispatch once again and report about the end of your operation
i) If you were filming anything, or if you were making photos, you must send your materials to federal security service for control and for removal of secrecy status of the video you filmed.
Yes, it is that ridiculous. In case you want to learn more, you can google translate this article about newest developments in Russian drone laws: https://tass.ru/obschestvo/6376723
Also, here’s Putin’s signed new law about raising fines 10x times (in Russian, obviously): http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201907260075?index=3&rangeSize=1
Changes from 02/12/2020:
Briefly, what is now possible:
Fly at altitudes of not more than 150 meters;
No need to submit a flight plan and coordinate the flight if your aircraft model weighs less than 30 kg.
To register an aircraft model with a take-off mass of more than 250 grams and up to 30 kg is still necessary!
What you can’t:
You can’t fly in control zones, near airports and control zones, security zones;
You can’t fly over mass events (rallies, competitions, demonstrations, concerts and other cultural events.)
Source: https://profpv.ru/zakon-o-bespilotnikah-v-rf-nuzhno-li-reg/