Fly Drone in Taiwan

        Because of technology innovation, drone is cheaper and easy to carry on for lots people. However, unsafe fly causes not only crash of drone, but also damage to human life. Here are some guidelines for your to fly a drone in Taiwan.

        Before reading the following article, be aware that I'm not telling you where you can fly but providing some warning  you should be noted since there are too  many factors that have impact on your flight. I cannot provide you any guaranty that you can fly at some places because of some reasons.

1. Some restricted areas are not listed in the map mentioned below.
2. There are lots people at some attractions. You should observe and change your plan immediately.

• CAA

        New regulations of drone is enforced since March 31, 2020.  Civial Aviation Authority  build a drone website for users.

        You can check the latest regulation for the drone from the website of Civial Aviation Authority. Here is a check list if you want to fly your dron in Taiwan, if you visit Taiwan for touring purpose. Flyin your drone for business purpose or your drone is beyong 2kg, or your done is not a DIY drone(not in the list),  is beyond the scope of this blog. 

1.Regist Your Drone

        You need to regist your drone if the weight of your drone is over 250g. Under the regulation, DJI mini(249g) is below the weight threshold and enjoys the waiver. If you use other drone, including Mavic, Spark and etc., you need to regist your drone in advance. 

        In fact, registering your done is easy.  It take you about 10 mintues. Before Septemeber 2020, it's free to regist. After that, it cost NTD 50 to regist your drone. The registration lasts 2 years. You need to regist again after 2 years.

        You can enter Foreigner Area by click Business Area. When you sign up with your cell phone, there will be an error if you regist with your cell phone number. You can regist after you buy the sim card at the airport.

        After registering your drone, you will get a QRcode. You need to print the QRcode and attach the QRcode on your drone

2.Check Restricted Area

        Most people are looking for a single information source or app that they can check all relevant restricted area. However, because lots different government unites have the authority to declare a new restricted area.  including  bureaus of aviation, military, park, harbor and etc., there is no single information source to release a summary reference in Taiwan. The  most inclusive app to check restricted area is airspace, the map provided by CAA.

        You can also download app to chekc whethere you can fly your drone at your current location.

1. DroneMap: is a official app provided by CAA,  release since Feb 2020. 
2. SkySentry: is a long-history app that has been used by drone players for many years. SkySentry applies the data from CAA and provides better UI. 

You can download these 2 app from android and ios.
android: SkySentry    DroneMap
ios: SkySentry    DroneMap

        There are 3 kind of colors in the map. Red is no fly zone, yellow is lower 200 feets and green is lower than 400 feets.

        You can also check the drone airspace in advance when organize your itinerary. Here is an example to check the airspace online.

        

       You can use CAA website to check the destiny in advance when organizing your drone plan. It is similar to google maps. You can use app(DroneMap) to check drone airspace as well.

3.  5 Shalls and 5 Shall-nots

        Here are 5 shalls and 5 shall-nots provided by CAA. That's a quick guide for operating flying a drone.

• More NFZ information than the Map You should know

        Although CAA provides general drone NFZ information. There are some tips you show know before flying your drone.

1. Not all restrictions is not included in the app. 
The following areas are also NFZ which are not records in the app :

      Although CAA summarizes NFZ areas information in Taiwan, however, some restricted areas are not included. It means that you should check around the field you want to fly. You cannot fly if you find waring that prohibits drone. The following examples show that you can fly your drone, but the authorty prohibit the drone.

Harbor: Kaohsiung Harbbor, Keelung Harbor, Taichung Harbor, Hualien Habor

Park/School: Some parks and schools will restricted drone. You should check  if there are any signs in the area.

The following map is the restricted area for drone aa Kaohsiung  Harbor

 The following map is the restricted area for drone at Keelung Harbor

2. National Park

Flight Plan

      If you want to fly in Yangmingshan National Park, Taroko National Park, Sheipa National Park, Kenting National  Park.

1. You can apply online and it is free.
2. Apply at least one week in advance.
3. You can apply for a range of date. For exampe: 1st March 2020~ 30th April.

        Some natioanl parks require flight plan. You need to draw the area you wan to fly in your plan. There is no formal flight plan. You can copy the image from google maps and draw the area you want fly.

• Attractions for drones

        I have collected some drone videos and pictures of Taiwan attractions. I know it is difficult to fly your drone since you need to find a good place to take off and land your drone. The place should be i an open space that can keep connection to your drone without crowd nearby. You also need to organize what picture/video you want to take in limited battery time. For a foreing visitor, you have only a few minites. Here are some attractions guide for droneto keep your tour smoothly and take good drone pictures/videos.  

        You can also leaave  message about the attran you wish to fly. I will try to answer ASAP.        

Taipei 101
        Since Taipei 101 is in 60m restrected area and lots people and building around. It's dangerous to fly there. You can fly at river park in the south side  <You cannot fly after sunset in Taiwan after 1st Apr 2020>



Jiufen

        Jiufen is a hill city. You need to find a place with open space and less people there. There are 2 suggestions. One is Keelung Mountain. Walk 10 minutes and you can fina a great view
        Tiangong Temple is near Jiufen Old Street and has a large squere and execellent view and great for taking off your drone.


You can consider some attractions near jiufen.



Lotus Pound
        There is a small square by side of Dragon & Tigor Towers. Sometimes there people wanking there. Last time. My drone taked off and landed on my hand in order to keep the safety of others.


Taroko
Taroko Nation Park is restrected area but you can apply online in advace. Since the signal is poor in the valley. Please keep an eye on your drone.

Other Topics You May Be Interested In 

• Transportation between Taipei and Hualien(Taroko)
• Transportation between Cinjing, Sun Moon Lake and Alisan
• Transportation of Yeliu, Pingxi, Shifen & Jiufen
• Yangminsan,Palace Museum,Beitou, Damshui, Shilin NM Itinerary
• Transportation to Taichung
• Bus Trip Between Cinjing and Taroko
• Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
• Booking Alisan Forest Train Tickets
• One-Day Hike in Taroko Gorge
• Booking Train Tickets
• Luggage Storage