Are Drones Allowed In Iceland

When going to Iceland, you will find yourself faced with many questions. What is the best time of year to visit Iceland for breathtaking aurora borealis? How much does it cost to travel in Iceland? But most importantly, are drones allowed in Iceland?

This can be an important question as your mental well-being depends on your ability to freely fly your drone over volcanic landscapes.

Drones are increasingly becoming common thing these days where the majority of people now own and operate them for recreational purposes. However, a lot of people still find drones to be an unusual gadget that causes some raised eyebrows, at best.

In this article, we will discuss the drone laws in Iceland. We will also give you some valuable information about how to understand and determine the legality of flying your drone around the country.

Drones In Iceland

Drones are essentially small, remote-controlled aircrafts that are often equipped with cameras to capture aerial photos and videos. They come in all shapes and sizes, and prices range from a couple hundred dollars up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Although drones were largely invented by the military, they’re now used for mapping land, as well as filming movies and television shows since they allow filmmakers to capture footage from a bird’s eye view. In addition, their popularity is growing among photographers because they make it easy to take stunning pictures from high above

Follow The Rules Of Flying Drone In Iceland

The Ministry of Transport and Local Government sets the rules for drones in Iceland. However, it is possible that certain municipalities may have additional, local rules that you need to follow. For example, it is illegal to fly a drone in Reykjavík city limits and if caught doing so, you could be fined.

The main rules are as follows:

• Do not fly your drone over cities or populated areas
• The maximum height you can fly within 10 kilometers of an airport is 120 meters (390 feet)
• You must keep your drone in sight at all times
• Respect the privacy of others!

Areas Where Drones Cannot Be Flown At All

If you are planning on using a drone for commercial purposes, make sure to check out the Nature Conservation Agency’s current rules and regulations. The agency is constantly updating its rules, so be sure to check back before your trip.

You cannot fly your drone in any of Iceland’s national parks, nature reserves or protected areas. This includes Thingvellir National Park, Westman Islands, Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon and Snæfellsjökull National Park (home of the infamous Snæfellsjökull glacier).

In addition to national parks and nature reserves, you cannot fly drones over military bases or airports—or within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of Reykjavik’s international airport.

As with the U.S., you must keep your drone in sight at all times when flying it in Iceland. In addition to keeping your drone within sight distance from yourself, you cannot fly a drone over urban areas (cities), over buildings or roads—or over people or animals anywhere in Iceland.

Drones Cannot Be Flown

• If you’re planning to fly a drone in Iceland, be aware that there are specific places where drones cannot be flown. Flying a drone in these areas would require permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Iceland (CAACI).
• Don’t think that just because you’re flying at night, you’re exempt from these regulations. These restrictions apply between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., regardless of daylight hours or weather conditions!
• These restrictions exist to protect certain areas that might be especially sensitive to human interference. They also help prevent accidents, such as collisions between drones and airplanes or injuries caused when drones fall out of the sky.
• So if your dream is to capture an aerial shot of a geyser exploding, remember that there are lots of other ways to get equally impressive footage—such as using a camera on tripod with slider, or renting an airplane or helicopter for the day—that won’t break any rules or put anyone’s safety at risk!

Fly Your Drone Over Other People

You can fly your drone over other people with their consent, but you can’t photograph or film them without their permission.

Private property owners don’t want drones flying over their land, so you need to get permission from these landowners before you launch your drone.

Property owners have the right to control what comes into and goes out of their land, so this means that you must get permission from the owner of any private property if you’re planning on flying your drone there—even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Can You Fly A Drone Near Airplanes

The straightforward answer to this question is “no, you can’t fly drones anywhere near an airport.” The longer answer is that it depends. Technically, you are not allowed to operate a drone within five kilometers of any airport.

While most people think of the major airports in Iceland like Keflavik International Airport when they hear this rule, it also prohibits flying in areas within 5 km of smaller airports and landing strips that are not regularly used.

If you’re unsure whether or not an airport or airfield is nearby, it’s probably best to err on the side of caution and avoid flying your drone in that area. That being said, if there are no airports nearby, then go ahead and fly your drone!

Any drone flying within 5 km of Keflavik International Airport (KEF) will be shot down by the Icelandic Police. The 5 km zone extends in all directions from the terminal building and includes Keflavik town itself. If you think you might want to fly near the airport, please read this entire article before you even think about bringing your drone to Iceland!

If your drone is within 5 km of KEF airport without prior authorization, it will be shot down by Police Order. It doesn’t matter if your drone is a toy or a high-end professional filming machine, whether you are a tourist or a local resident; if police spot an unauthorized drone that close to KEF it will be taken out. On top of that, you may face criminal prosecution and/or civil action for damages caused by its destruction.

This strict no-fly zone around the airport is enforced by the Icelandic Transport Authority (ICETRA). ICETRA sets the rules for unmanned aircraft systems in Iceland and oversees all flights both commercial and recreational, with drones being their main focus at this time due to their dramatic rise in popularity over recent years.

Keep Your Drone Within Sight

If you plan to use a drone (or “remotely piloted aircraft”) to take pictures or videos of your trip, here are some things you should know:

You must always keep your drone within sight while flying it and cannot fly it at an altitude higher than 120 meters above ground level. Flying over 120 meters is against the law in Iceland and can be dangerous. Before using a drone in Iceland, you must inquire about the applicable rules and laws regarding flight operations from the Icelandic Transport Authority.

You Cannot Fly Over Emergency Situations

• You cannot fly over emergency situations or gatherings of people such as concerts and sports events.

• The maximum permitted flight altitude is 120 m.
• Do not fly in darkness or in bad weather conditions.
• Do not fly within 5 km of an airport.
• Do not fly above public roads.
• You are not allowed to fly a drone over other people unless they give their permission, but you can film over private property with the owner’s permission if the drone is visible to them at all times and the operator remains in sight of it at all times.
• You can’t use a drone to hunt or disturb wildlife or people. Why this is illegal is pretty obvious, but it’s also enforced by the authorities.

Keep Yourself Up-to-date With Laws

Make sure you’re up-to-date on the local laws and guidelines before you take flight with your drone, because they could vary from your home country’s rules and regulations, especially if you’re a tourist in a foreign country like Iceland. The last thing you want to do is break the local laws and regulations!

When you’re in a foreign country, sometimes the rules are very different from what they are in your home country. Some regions have stricter drone laws than others, while some places have no drone laws at all. In addition to this, some countries have a combination of both strict regulations and lenient ones.

For example, one country may require a permit to fly over certain landmarks but not over other landmarks. It’s important that before you fly with your drone, whether it be for personal or professional use, make sure you do your research on the local laws and guidelines. If possible, talk to someone who has flown drones in the area before so they can tell you what it’s like flying there; this will help give you an idea of how easy (or difficult) navigating these legal waters will be if/when you travel there.

You Must Have Permission From The Landowner

You must have permission from the landowner in order to fly your drone. This can be either a municipality – if you’re flying over its area – or the Icelandic state, if you’re flying over a particular part of Iceland that is not under municipal authority.

The landowner can grant you permission for specific areas or for specific periods of time and should indicate this when issuing the permit. Due to their size and weight, drones are considered aircraft by Icelandic authorities. As such, the rules regarding drones are subject to the same safety regulations as other aircraft (e.g., weather conditions).

You Are Not Allowed To Fly Over Or Near Crowds

If you are flying in a public area, please make sure that you don’t fly over or near crowds of people. Keep in mind that people can be hurt by your drone, so avoid flying near them whenever possible.

You have to follow the same rules as those who are using drones weighing less than 20 kilograms. There is no specific licensing required to fly a drone weighing less than 20 kilograms, if not being used commercially.

30m Rule

What is the 30m rule?

It means that drones need to be kept at least 30m away from people and animals. This includes horses, sheep, hikers, dogs and birds. In short: if it’s something that could fly into your drone and get injured by it, you’re best off keeping a distance of at least 30m between them.

And this is not just for larger drones – the rule applies regardless of how big or small your drone actually is. The good news is that this rule also exists in the US (and most other places).

The reason the Icelandic authorities have enforced such a strict approach to drones is because they want to prevent injury to people while also actively discouraging reckless drone pilots. Iceland wants all visitors to come away with positive memories of their trip, so all tourists are required to show respect towards nature and other travelers.

You Cannot Fly In Built-up Areas Without Permission

In order to get permission, you need to present a valid pilot license and drone registration, along with your intended flight plan. This needs to be done at least 2 weeks before the flight. It is also possible to contact the General Directorate of Customs for more information about flying drones in Iceland.

You Need To Know What Rules And Regulations Apply

Drones are increasingly used in the modern world. In Iceland, drones are generally allowed in Iceland, but you need to know what rules and regulations apply.

The use of drones is a changing landscape. Specific rules for flying a drone in Iceland may change. If you want to fly a drone in Iceland, here are some general rules to follow:

• Drones must be registered according to manufacturer’s specs and not exceed certain weights.
• Drones can only be flown during daylight hours (30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset).
• Drones can only be flown within your line of sight (no further than approximately 1000 feet).
• You must have permission from the landowner before flying over private property. Do not enter protected natural areas without formal permission from park authorities.

Frequently Asked Question (are Drones Allowed In Iceland)

Can I Use My Drone In Populated Areas Of Iceland?

Drones are not allowed to fly above populated areas, but you can use them in unpopulated areas (e.g., in the countryside). If you plan to use your drone in a populated area and have not been granted permission by the landowner, then you must keep it within line of sight at all times (i.e., no flying it over cities or towns).

You can get around this restriction by flying your drone on private property without bothering anyone else—as long as you have permission from the property owner! This means that if there is an open field near where you’re staying, then it’s possible for you to do some drone photography there without breaking any laws or getting into trouble with anyone else nearby who might be annoyed by hearing buzzing noises overhead all day long while trying to sleep at night.”

Is There Any Area In Iceland Where I Can Use My Drone Freely?

You can fly your drone freely in some parts of the country. The Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority has published a map showing those areas where you can fly your drone legally, as well as places where it is illegal to use drones.

Is There A Place Where I Can Fly My Drone Without The Risk Of Being Arrested Or Fined?

First things first, you can fly your drone in Iceland without a license. You can do it at some places in Iceland without the risk of being arrested or fined, but there are restrictions on where you can fly your drone in Iceland.

The Icelandic Aviation Administration (IAA) has identified several areas where drones should not be used:

• Flora preservation zones and protected areas
• Airports and adjacent areas
• Military installations

If you see a sign which says “no-fly area” then always respect that as it’s there for your own safety as well as everybody else’s.

Can I Fly A Drone In Iceland Without A License?

If you’re 18 or older and want to fly a drone in Iceland, then you’ll need to register your drone with the Civil Aviation Authority. You can do this online for free by visiting their website and filling out the form.

Once you’ve been approved, it’s time to get licensed! To get a license from the Civil Aviation Authority, you’ll need to pass an exam, as well as undergo training on how not to crash into airplanes. The whole process should take about two weeks once all of your paperwork is processed by both parties involved (i.e., yourself and the CAA).

When it comes down to flying drones in specific areas versus other areas around Iceland: it’s just like driving cars there—you have different rules depending on where you’re going! For example, if there isn’t any snow covering up certain surfaces (like grass or dirt), then pilots must use caution when taking off because they might end up stalling out due

Conclusion

In short, Drones are allowed in Iceland so long as you stay within the legal regulations for their use. Operators will also have to stay away from prohibited zones. Check out the FAA’s tips on flying drones safely, rules for drone operators, and a list of places where drones are prohibited .