Drones - The Law

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
21
How does it stay within limits of the transmitter max power both for remote control and for the video sent back?

22
Those are the limits.. In practice i've flown mine around 100m high, 3km away..

But it becomes quickly impossible to see, which is one of the legal requirements, to have it in line of sight..

If it loses signal it will return to home..

23
Hi everyone, I hope you are all doing well.

Thought this could be useful for y'all pilots out there:

https://www.internationallawoffice.c...ion+Newsletter

24
So far Switzerland has not decided when and how it will take over EU Regulation 2019/947

https://www.bazl.admin.ch/bazl/en/ho...bernommen.html

25

As it seems current regulations will hold till year end. Most likely a new/revised regulation will enter into force by 2021.

Specially relevant here for ocasional drone flyers within the "open category" is to observe the pilot registration and training requirements, though it isn't clear from the text whether which pilots within this category will have to undergo training + registration:

The new Regulation stipulates pilot registration, online training and online examinations for most pilots in the open category. Pilots have to register on an official registration platform (UAS.gate). After registration, pilots will also have to undergo online training and an online test to familiarise themselves with the new rules.

26
I thought I read that drones under 250g (Mavic mini like I have) are largely exempt from training etc..

As long as the normal rules like not flying over crowds, keeping control, line of sight etc are observed.

Although since current models will not have the new designation there's some ambiguity.

27
Hi, as the weather got better I was thinking of creating some videos about the historic parts of Geneva, Lausanne, Monteraux, etc. I bought Mavic Mini 2 and started learning things, but now a friend laughed at me saying that it's impossible to fly drone anywhere around Geneva and Lausanne. I was just doing research today instead of flying the drone

According to https://www.bazl.admin.ch/bazl/en/ho...u-drohnen.html my drone, 249g is allowed to fly everywhere without any license or training. Sure, I should avoid rush hours to avoid people on the streets (definitely not crowds), but apart from that I don't see any problems. I can see that my plan should definitely work out till the covid lockdown is in place and streets are mostly empty.

I believe that these tribal legends about the drone ban comes from the fact that some friends of friends operated heavier drones, those in range ~1kg - 2kg, and got stopped by the authorities.

Any thoughts? Are here Mavic Mini (2) owners?

28
I have an app "Drone Maps" on my phone which tell me exactly where I can and cannot fly in Switzerland. The rules in Switzerland are clearly posted at https://www.bazl.admin.ch/bazl/en/ho...u-drohnen.html . I have been flying my Mavic drones in Switzerland for some time with only one problem with the police when they mistakenly thought I was flying too close to a public gathering. I wasn't. Switzerland is a perfect country for drones, I've seen some stunning drone footage over the Alps and a spectacular sequence filmed in Basel. I've got some great footage over Lausanne and right along the Swiss Riviera. Just be sensible and considerate.

29
But that restriction, like most of them, is for Drones weighting 500g and more. Nonetheless I plan to fly rather away of people, looking for a perfect timing when there's nobody around the spot I want to capture or/and fly high enough so people won't feel alarmed.

30
What's the rule for flying drones in CH. I'm gonna come over for a holiday and really would love to take some footage with my Mavic mini air. Both of Schaffhausen and surrounds (eg Rhinefall), and up in the Alps.. maybe Grindlewald.

I had a look on the websites and the laws seemed pretty liberal but that seems out of character for CH and I'm sure it differs between cantons.

Can anyone advise on what I can and can't do and, most probably, where I might have to go to buy a permit

31
This is the information you want.

I highly recommend having a drone/liability insurance just in case.

32
Maybe this should be a separate thread, but I have a question about drones and privacy:

According to the link in Jeep Life's post, you can't film a person without their consent.

How about filming pets, or any other thing on one's property?

This has come up irecently. The drone owner says he does not need permission because he is filming things, not people.

It's an invasion of privacy, but is there any legal protection?

33
He is not allowed to film your property without your consent .

34
If your drone is loud, please remember noise carries easily in the mountains and can be annoying for others to hear. There was a man flying his drone on the Rigi a few years ago. His machine was loud and annoying, especially to those enjoying the natural beauty and views. After five minutes, I went up to the guy and told him flying drones on the Rigi was illegal. He stopped and life could be enjoyed again.

It’s why skidoos aren’t allowed on lakes.... Too noisy.

35
Seadoos?

36
Jetski is what I had in mind but seadoo is kinda cooler.

37
Of course drones are not allowed to be used AT ALL in most nature reserves and national parks. Totally forbidden at Creux-du-Van near me - but try and tell them that!!! It really affects the wildlife, be it Ibex, chamois, etc, or the peregrines, kites , skylarks and amazing and rare tichodrome wall creepers.

38
It flies over my property, it's toast.

39
So the owner cannot film without my permission.

A couple of questions:

1. How can one prove that a drone is filming/not filming when it flies overhead? I'm guessing it would take looking at the drone camera, which one cannot do without the owner's consent. Should I assume that the onus lies with the person who objects to the drone to prove that it is filming, rather than the owner to prove that it is not?

2. Are there any actual consequences for filming without consent?

I ask because not only did I not see any referred to in the linked articles, but also because the title of the SRF piece is 'Gentleman's Agreement', which to me references a situation I see all the time here: An action may be forbidden, but the regs rely on people complying voluntarily, there are no consequences for ignoring the regs. And thus regs are broken all the time.

So when a drone owner overflies my property or films without permission and the drone owner ignores my objection, are there any steps could I take?

40
I wonder where the fine line is between privacy and destruction of somebody else ́s property?