Can you take a drone on a plane?

Can I take my drone on a plane? The question is more than pertinent, since one of the main reasons why it is advisable to buy this aircraft is the possibility of taking wonderful aerial photos and making shots from above during our travels. Good news: the answer to this question is, essentially: yes, there is no absolute prejudice for transporting a drone on a plane, whether in the hold or in the cabin. Problem solved, then? Not really, because UAS, aircraft without passengers, are still subject to airline rules that concern other objects and electronic instruments. In addition, it is always good to find out if drones are welcome in the country where we will land.

In practice, there are three things to pay attention to:

• Drone size and weight
• Built-in battery and possible spare battery
• Drone Rules in the Country You Will Land in

Hand luggage weight and dimensions

In the first case, the problem arises especially if you want to bring your aircraft in the cabin, as hand luggage. In some cases, in fact, it may be your only option. Airlines have precise rules, quite similar to each other, on the maximum size and weight that the luggage you decide to keep with you can have.
For safety reasons, an airplane cannot exceed a certain load level, and hand luggage must be placed in the overhead lockers, which have limited capacity. There are airlines that require you to pack and keep your drone in the cabin, because it is forbidden to transport batteries in the hold. This prohibition can be circumvented by removing the power supply and treating it like any other power bank.

The hold could in fact be an obligatory choice if you are lucky enough to own a large model like the DJI Inspire 2 or like the forbidden dream of every video maker, the DJI Inspire 3 , which almost certainly exceed the standards for cabin transport. Smaller products, from the DJI Mini to the Mavic series, on the other hand, can easily be considered carry-on luggage.

If you own a large drone and you have to travel with an airline that prohibits its transportation in the hold at all times, you have run into that very rare circumstance in which you will have to give up your drone, at least for that trip. Always inform yourself, in any case, about the specific rules of each airline.

Size matters

The maximum dimensions for hand luggage are generally around 55 x 40 x 20 cm and the weight varies between 8 and 10 kg. However, small variations are not at all excluded, and a difference of a few centimetres could spoil the party. Weight, on the other hand, is not an obstacle for drones in themselves, but it is unlikely that they are the only thing you will want to put in your hand luggage.

The Air France company, for example, provides for maximum dimensions of 55 x 35 x 25 cm (including handles, pockets and wheels) and a maximum weight of no more than 12 kg in Economy and 18 kg in Business and Premiere. But pay attention to the rules for intercontinental flights. Our company Ita Airways applies the same size limits, but is more strict on weight: no more than 8 kg.

The German company Lufthansa, on the other hand, sets a limit of 55 x 40 x 23 cm and a maximum weight of 8 kg. For America Airlines, the total dimensions of the hand luggage, including handles and wheels, cannot exceed 56 x 36 x 23 cm and must fit into the reference container at the airport.

The battery

A bit more complicated is the issue of batteries, both integrated and additional, for which you may be forced to do some mathematical calculations. Again, the rules may vary from one company to another, but let's establish some starting points:

– Electronic devices containing lithium batteries are permitted to be carried in hand luggage.

• Batteries must have a capacity of less than 100 Wh (watt hours). To calculate the Watt hours, you need to multiply the battery voltage, measured in Volts, by the Amperage hours (Ah), unless the Wh value is listed on the back of the product, which is quite rare nowadays.
  
  
• Spare batteries must be carried in carry-on baggage only, not in checked baggage. They are sometimes required to be protected against short circuits (for example, with electrical tape over the terminals or in their original packaging).

If the batteries have a capacity between 100 Wh and 160 Wh:

• It is possible to carry devices that use these batteries, but only with the prior approval of the airline.
• You are allowed to carry a maximum of two spare batteries, always in your hand luggage.

For lithium-metal (Li-metal) batteries, the same rules apply as for lithium-ion batteries with regard to transportation in hand luggage and the prohibition on transportation in checked baggage, but they must not exceed 2 g.

It must be clarified that The 100 Wh value protects all owners of consumer drones , from DJI Mini to Mavic. The aforementioned Inspire 2 also has a battery with a value of 98 Wh.

Check the airlines

As we said, these are general indications: it is advisable to check the specific rules of each airline. ITA Airways applies exactly the restrictions described above, and allows the transport of up to 20 spare lithium batteries in the cabin, provided that, in fact, they do not exceed 100 Wh individually. If you exceed this measure, but remain under 160 Wh, you need the company's permission and the limit of transportable pieces drops to two (and in any case well insulated). If you visit the company's website under the heading Prohibited and Regulated Items drones will also be found, allowed both in the cabin and in the hold. For transport in the hold, adequate packaging and separation of the battery is required, to which the rules already mentioned for spare batteries apply.

There Lufthansa It follows the same general rules, but reduces the number of battery-powered devices that can be transported in the cabin to 15.

The American company American Airlines allows the transport of drones in the cabin, provided that the battery does not exceed 160 Wh and the dimensions (or package dimensions) are equal to or less than 56 x 36 x 23 centimeters. The competitor United Airlines It is more severe on the lithium battery front, and does not allow those that exceed 100 Wh.

The site of the EasyJet clarifies under the heading “unusual items” that “Portable electronic devices containing non-waterproof batteries must be 12V or less and 100Wh or less. A maximum of 2 loose batteries are permitted to be carried”. The competitor deviates slightly from this line Ryanair , whose pages clearly state: “Lithium battery-powered devices, such as drones and quadcopters, are permitted for carriage in the cabin if the battery does not exceed 160 watt hours. If the battery exceeds 160 watt hours, the device cannot be carried on board the aircraft”.

It can be concluded that, in most cases, nothing stands in the way of transporting UAS by air, but to avoid any misunderstandings when boarding, contact the airline by email, specify the characteristics of your model and have them send you a written confirmation, to be shown to overzealous, overly cautious or poorly informed employees.

Regardless of airline rules, it is a good idea to have suitable cases for travel, especially if the drone will travel in the hold, tossed around among other luggage. DJI offers several models of bags and backpacks, such as the DJI Convertible Carrying Bag , perfect for the Mavic 3, or the spacious OneMo Backpack 25L, which has dimensions perfectly compatible with the hand luggage limits of all airlines.

The drone doesn't pass here

However, it is unlikely that you brought a drone with you and then left it in its case and did not fly it. It is therefore essential to inform yourself about the laws that govern the use of UAS within the borders of your destination.

It is very likely that you will have to register your drone with your local authorities, especially if it reaches or exceeds the 250 g threshold. In the United States you will have to contact the FAA and then comply with the federal flight rules, not dissimilar to those in Europe, and local ones.
However, there are countries where your drone will not be allowed to enter at all and you risk having it confiscated at the airport. This is the case, for example, of Morocco, Algeria and other North African countries. Saudi Arabia and its Middle Eastern neighbors are also very strict with UAS, as are Iran and Iraq. Then there are countries that allow their import, but only following strict government permits and under strict control. This is the case, for example, of India and Turkey, where the use of these vehicles is not recommended to those who are not strongly (strongly!) motivated and not afraid of provoking reactions from the local police. Russia also belonged to this last category, but recent war events have made the restrictions much more rigid.

In general, it is always best to contact the relevant authorities well in advance to obtain permits and try to talk to embassies and consulates to have up-to-date and reliable information.
Always use common sense, have adequate insurance coverage, do not bend local rules, and, unless you have serious professional goals, avoid using drones in volatile or flammable socio-political settings. No one wants to see their investment “flambéed.”