Drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), are governed by Regulations 140 to 144, and flying without following the rules can land operators in trouble.
The regulations cover everything from flight altitude and airspace restrictions to proximity to people, buildings and sensitive areas.
They also outline the responsibilities of drone operators and the penalties for violations.
Under Regulation 140, drones are banned in certain areas, including Class A, B, C and G airspace, within an aerodrome traffic zone and at altitudes above 400ft without approval.
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Classes A, B and C are controlled airspaces, while Class G is uncontrolled. To obtain authorisation, an application must be made in accordance with Regulation 189.
“Dropping any object from a drone is also prohibited,” the regulation states.
Regulation 141 requires prior authorisation for any commercial or aerial work, such as surveying, mapping or agricultural operations, including dispensing pesticides.
Regulation 142 requires pilots to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with their drone to monitor its flight.
“This is to avoid potential collisions with other aircraft, people, vehicles, vessels or structures,” the regulation notes.
Regulation 143 prohibits flying small unmanned aircraft in certain situations without prior authorisation.
This includes flying over or within 150m of designated areas, over crowds of more than 1,000 people, or within 50m of vessels, vehicles, structures or individuals.
Designated areas include residential, commercial, industrial or recreational zones.
Regulation 144 further restricts flights of drones weighing more than 20kg without fuel unless authorised.
Beyond the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), other agencies – including Sirim, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the Survey and Mapping Department, and state authorities in Sabah and Sarawak – also oversee drone operations.
CAAM issues various approvals, including the Standard Authorisation To Fly, Certificate of Approval for Remote Pilot Training Organisations, and Unmanned Aerial Work Certificate for agricultural drone operations or special UAS projects.
Penalties for breaking the rules are steep: individuals can face fines of up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to three years or both, while companies may be fined up to RM100,000.
