Report Thailand Declares No-Fly Zones for Drones in Military Regions

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of MGR Online

 

In a decisive move to bolster national security, Thailand has declared fourteen key areas as no-fly zones for drones, focusing particularly on sensitive military regions along its borders. This measure, announced by Jirayu Huangsub, the Government spokesperson, is aimed at mitigating potential security risks posed by unauthorised drone activity.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued a directive, dated 29th July, prohibiting drone flights in designated restricted, prohibited, or dangerous areas. The primary concern is the border regions between Thailand and Cambodia, where unauthorised drone operations have sparked security alerts.

 

The designated no-fly zones include strategic locations across several provinces:

 

• Chanthaburi: VTP36 Khao Soi Dao Tai
• Trat: VTP37 Khao Khlong Oa, VTP38 Ko Chang – Ko Kood
• Surin
• Buriram
• Nakhon Ratchasima: Areas VTD30 and VTD32
• Nakhon Sawan and Chai Nat: VTD33
• Phetchabun and Phichit: VTD34
• Prachin Buri and Sa Kaeo: VTD40
• Lop Buri: VTD43
• Ubon and Sisaket: VTD45
• Ubon Ratchathani: VTD54, VTD55
• Eastern Areas: VTR62, encompassing multiple provinces

 

Moreover, drones are strictly prohibited within a 9-kilometre radius of any airport or temporary airfields. The Thai military has equipped itself with advanced anti-drone systems capable of intercepting and neutralising foreign drones that attempt to enter Thai airspace. The technology can disrupt control signals, ensuring that no unauthorised devices come within a kilometre of the nation's borders.

 

The CAAT is actively monitoring the situation, collaborating with relevant agencies to safeguard all flights entering and departing the country. Some airlines have made minor adjustments to their flight paths and frequencies to navigate away from these conflict zones, especially on routes towards Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. These changes, however, are minimal and remain well within operational constraints, maintaining uninterrupted flight services.

 

With these measures, Thailand aims to fortify its airspace, ensuring national security while accommodating the seamless flow of international travel.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-30

 

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Civil Aviation Authority Bans All Drone Flights Nationwide Until 15 August

 

 

 

[AsiaCheese]

As a drone pilot, I'm grounding my fleet until at least August 15th, which was mentioned as a duration by the CAAT. My understanding was that the ban on drone flights is nationwide, and not just designated zones as mentioned in the post here. Better safe than sorry, as the fines/jail terms sound pretty unpleasant.

 

[Kinnock]

3 minutes ago, AsiaCheese said:

As a drone pilot, I'm grounding my fleet until at least August 15th, which was mentioned as a duration by the CAAT. My understanding was that the ban on drone flights is nationwide, and not just designated zones as mentioned in the post here. Better safe than sorry, as the fines/jail terms sound pretty unpleasant.

 

Yes, I've seen conflicting reports on this.

 

Some state regions, others say all of Thailand.

 

Agricultural drones are very common on farms in Central regions such as Suphan Buri, so a ban there would impact on cultivation.

[Grusa]

Do they seriously think this is remotely (pun) possible to enforce? Somchai jr. will play with his toys. So will Putin, HunSen, etc.

[PETERTHEEATER]

What's next? All privately operated drones will be required to have IFF installed?

[hotchilli]

6 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

What's next? All privately operated drones will be required to have IFF installed?

Just an operator with a brain.

[AsiaCheese]

On 7/31/2025 at 1:21 PM, Kinnock said:

Yes, I've seen conflicting reports on this.

 

Some state regions, others say all of Thailand.

 

Agricultural drones are very common on farms in Central regions such as Suphan Buri, so a ban there would impact on cultivation.

 

Some association of commercial large drone flyers have said that they will comply, and lose somewhere in the region of 6-10k baht per operator daily. People will have to do the spraying for the time being – but to find people isn't easy either, plus they're not exactly cheap either nowadays...

[KhunLA]

Stand down Capt George ... return to base