There have been recent press reports that regulations for drone use in Thailand have been revised to now require that all dronse must have dual registration. Before, drones under 250Grams with no camera were exempt.

I assume these revised regulations also apply to RC aircraft such as miniature warplanes? Can anybody confirm this with certainty?

A confusing aspect of the new regulations makes it seem that even possessing drone or RC aircraft that have not been registered for is now illegal. That all such aircraft must be registered with both authorities within 60 days.

I have 2 small under 250g quads and 2 small RC replica aircraft purchased during the Covid lockdown. The quads were exempt at the time. None are registered. I never actually flew the aircraft because I could never find a decent location in the Pattaya area.

It's not worth it to register them all now so it seems I'll have to dispose of them to stay within the letter of the law.

5 minutes ago, dddave said:

There have been recent press reports that regulations for drone use in Thailand have been revised to now require that all dronse must have dual registration. Before, drones under 250Grams with no camera were exempt.

I assume these revised regulations also apply to RC aircraft such as miniature warplanes? Can anybody confirm this with certainty?

A confusing aspect of the new regulations makes it seem that even possessing drone or RC aircraft that have not been registered for is now illegal. That all such aircraft must be registered with both authorities within 60 days.

I have 2 small under 250g quads and 2 small RC replica aircraft purchased during the Covid lockdown. The quads were exempt at the time. None are registered. I never actually flew the aircraft because I could never find a decent location in the Pattaya area.

It's not worth it to register them all now so it seems I'll have to dispose of them to stay within the letter of the law.

I don't have any RC planes or drones, just boats and helis, but as far as I know if no cameras and less then 2KG they don't have to be registered. Found this for you on AI..............

Do you need to register?

• NO: If the RC plane has no camera AND weighs less than 2 kilograms.

• YES: If the RC plane has no camera BUT weighs more than 2 kilograms.

• YES: If the RC plane has ANY camera, regardless of weight. [1, 2]

Key 2026 Regulations for Non-Camera RC Planes:

• Weight Limit: Any device (with or without camera) over 25 kilograms requires special written permission from the Minister of Transport.

• No-Fly Zones: You cannot fly near airports, in specific national parks, or in seven restricted border provinces, regardless of whether you need registration.

• Operational Rules: Even if exempt from registration, you must still follow safety rules (e.g., maximum height of 90 meters, no flying near people or vehicles). [1, 2, 3]

If you must register, it requires two steps:

1. NBTC: For radio frequency (device registration).

2. CAAT: For the pilot/operator license.

3. And this link.............https://droneth.or.th/en/drone-laws-guide-2026/

The attached article from "Thaiger News" makes it appear that ALL drones must be registered, no size exemptions.

Thaiger

Drone laws in Thailand for people who do not want to lose...

Thailand’s drone laws cover CAAT and NBTC registration, insurance, no-fly zones, flight rules, and penalties for violations.

5 hours ago, dddave said:

It's not worth it to register them all now so it seems I'll have to dispose of them to stay within the letter of the law.

I offer free retirement space for RC whatever, that needs a place for their final years 🙄

I'm awaiting a delivery of drone, hopefully tomorrow. 2nd day it's been 'out for delivery"

I'm pretty sure PoPo would laugh at me, if I took this in to register, along with about 10 other ones I have.

This one is too funny ...

This is new also ...

"more taxes will solve everything, and the band played all"

Edited May 11May 11 by KhunLA

You now need approved training course !

23 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

You now need approved training course !

That's actually a good thing, as my wife can't seem to wrap her head around understanding the controls, even with GPS.

I learned without GPS, since crashing first day having 1st drone, and cracking the GPS module. Actually turned out to be a good thing. A lot more fun operating in manual.

They're fairly idiot proof now, (sorry honey), the GPS models, especially DJI with obstacle avoidance.

Non GPS models are basically light toys, and unless you crashed into someone's eye, almost impossible to hurt someone. Racing drone are a bit different, due to high speeds, and could do some damage if hitting one's head. They take some talent to fly at speed, and way beyond me.

Edited May 13May 13 by KhunLA

New law from May 17th according to several news outlets.

Here is from The Nation

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40066155

Edited May 14May 14 by hanbla

IMHO, the laws are ridiculously restricted, and target the most ignorant of anyone wanting a drone ... or ... someone wishing to do harm, which same as gun laws, they won't follow the laws anyway.

Most ridiculous rule, have to submit flight plan 3 days in advance on app. So scratch anyone on holiday, unless stay at same place for 3+ days.

Scratch any real photographer, who wants 'that' view, sunrise, sunset or unscheduled event, happening. It won't be there in 3 days time.

Equate this to any hobbyist, whether doing daily, weekly or monthly, whatever, and you have to give 3 days notice on an app, of what, where and when you will do whatever.

They should just make it easy on themselves, and just ban drones flat out, as few non professionals, will bother registering. Not like it's going to provide any tax revenue to justify the man hours to regulate, as wasted too much time & man hours already.

That, aside from where you are allowed to operate a drone anywhere, to begin with. Not within 30 meters of anything you don't own, without permission, and we'll get back to you in 3 days to let you know if we'll allow it. Oh yea, will they be asking for permission in writing from every land owner you'll be operating over.

I want to check my solar panels on my roof, and my friends house ... submit a flight plan. Friends just arrive, think I'll take some snaps ... submit a flight plan. Nice sunset, let me get a better view above the tree line ... submit a flight plan

Someone is missing, along a hiking trail, and may be injured since not returning ... summit a flight plan.

Edited May 14May 14 by KhunLA

IMHO, the laws are ridiculously restricted, and target the most ignorant of anyone wanting a drone ... or ... someone wishing to do harm, which same as gun laws, they won't follow the laws anyway.

Gotta agree with that. But I decided not to even bring my DJIs down from China, given the new rules and the number of unrelated stories of falangs being busted for random, dumb laws. Like paying a 40K baht fine for vaping on the beach...

Especially now that there are companies selling the systems that can identify the serial number of just about any drone flying within their range. That could become a big earner for the BIB. And I like my money too much to give it away.

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

Gotta agree with that. But I decided not to even bring my DJIs down from China, given the new rules and the number of unrelated stories of falangs being busted for random, dumb laws. Like paying a 40K baht fine for vaping on the beach...

Especially now that there are companies selling the systems that can identify the serial number of just about any drone flying within their range. That could become a big earner for the BIB. And I like my money too much to give it away.

Yep, unless rural, it would only be a matter of time, before busted for operating a drone in TH, unregistered. Even registered, the filing flight plan is just silly.

Yep, unless rural, it would only be a matter of time, before busted for operating a drone in TH, unregistered. Even registered, the filing flight plan is just silly.

It's all running together in my tiny brain (TH and CN drone laws), but I think the flight plan is for commercial drones that are heavy enough to crush a person if they fall from the sky. Those do need to be regulated. Not my 140 gram NEO2, though. Still, I'm not going to risk it tomorrow when I fly in.

I get a kick out of the way they characterize an unregistered controller as a separate offense under Thai radio laws that seem to be geared toward Cambodian spies.

7 hours ago, hanbla said:

New law from May 17th according to several news outlets.

Here is from The Nation

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40066155

Only affects those operating in a "Specific Category".

These include medium-risk flights such as commercial operations, cinematography, surveying, flights in restricted or specific areas, and missions that deviate from general flight conditions.

Nothing changes for nerds filming the sunset for tiktok.