1. Know and Respect the rules and regulations of the country you are travelling to. Some foreign countries require a permit to fly your drone and some ban drones completely. There is the potential you could have your drone taken even in a layover of a country that bans them. The last thing you want is to have your drone confiscated in a Moroccan airport.
2. Battery Protection!
Most airlines require your drone to be in your carry-on luggage and batteries must be at a state of charge (SoC) not to exceed 30% of their rated design capacity. This means that you should deplete your batteries before you attempt to transport them. Although your airline may not ask for lipo bag (a fire resistant bag), I strongly recommend doing so in an abundance of safety and for peace of mind. Most airlines do require the battery contacts to be covered to prevent short-circuiting (electrical tape does the trick). It’s also wise to remove the batteries from your drone while travelling to ensure there is no way it can activate in-flight.
3. Secure your baby – You most likely didn’t purchase an expensive flying machine only to have it manhandled, destroyed or even worse, lost at the airport. If for some reason you aren’t able to carry on your drone, the last thing you want to do is helplessly look out your window on the tarmac of Heathrow to see the luggage its in, be launched onto a luggage train. Make sure your drone is in a hard shell case, gimbal locks installed and everything you need to keep your drone in the air is secure! Can you imagine getting ready for that perfect pic only to discover a prop is broke? I’m pretty sure Amazon Prime 2 day shipping isn’t a thing in Belize!
Lastly, if you have any additional questions, reach out the authorities in the country you are travelling to. Allow plenty of time for a response, government isn't exactly a well-oiled machine, and foreign governments can be even worse. Happy droning!
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