When traveling, the question of how to carry those pesky li-po onboard airplanes always resurfaces. Whether it is with a DJI drone or a custom built drone, the same precautions are needed to be safe when on aircrafts. I’ll quickly go over the rules and regulations for North America (Canada, USA & Mexico), and Europe. Other continents, and more importantly countries, vary quite a bit more.
Some countries prohibit drones entirely (or have a limit on drone weight). Before traveling, check the local requirements for drones to avoid unwelcome surprises at customs. Don’t assume you’ll be able to bring your drone without prior research.
When flying on commercial flights, the standard limit for the battery size is 100Wh, and normally, you cannot carry more than 20 batteries.
To calculate the Wh of your batteries, take the nominal voltage (14.8V for 4s 22.2 for 6s), and multiply it by the number of amps (1300mah would be 1.3A). Most mini quad batteries are well under 100Wh.
Your aim when traveling with those batteries is for the border agents to see if your stuff is safe, so lipo bags, connector covers and having batteries where the label is clearly visible helps you out during those checks. If you have custom batteries, leave those at home as they will most likely be confiscated.
You can 3d print caps or buy them on aliexpress :
xt60 caps – Koop xt60 caps met gratis verzending op AliExpress version
Put your batteries in storage (3.80-3.85V per cell) and keep the airline’s battery guidelines on hand in case you need to clarify anything with the plane staff. Also avoid using terms like quadcopter, FPV drone. Use generic terms like : camera drone, toy helicopter, this will save you some explaining at checkpoints.
North-America
Mexico
To travel to Mexico, you’ll have to follow the following guidelines:
- Drone cannot exceed 2kg, except if you possess a license and your aircraft is registered and you have approval from the Secretary of transport.
- Drones Over 250g have to be registered
- You cannot travel with batteries that have a wattage of more than 100Wh.
Other than that, to register your drone in Mexico, you’ll need the following :
Proof of purchase of your drone: An invoice or other document confirming your ownership is essential. As your invoice is probably not in Spanish, you will need to include a translation of the invoice. Without this, you might be charged taxes on the value of your drone (about 16% of cost)
Registration form “K”: This is an Excel file that you have to fill out as an RPAS operator. Print out the completed file, sign the form and send it together with the purchase invoice and a scan of your passport to rpas@afac.gob.mx. Please remember to include your address in Mexico on the form.
Scan of your Photo ID : Any photo ID will work
Here’s the link to the article with links for all the documents, including the ‘K’ form.
RPAS Drones | Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil | Gobierno | gob.mx (www.gob.mx)
United-States of America
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has set rules in place for traveling by plane to the USA. Passengers can carry most consumer-type batteries and portable battery-powered electronic devices in carry-on baggage. Spare batteries must be protected from damage and short circuit, and devices must be protected from accidental activation and heat generation.
Lithium-ion batteries and power banks can only be packed in carry-on baggage and are limited to a rating of 100 watt hours (Wh) per battery. With airline approval, passengers can bring two larger spare batteries (up to 160 Wh) in carry-on baggage.
This means that as long as your batteries are below 100Wh, you shouldn’t have any issues boarding a plane with your li-po batteries.
To fly in the USA, you’ll need to abide by the FAA RemoteID laws, along with the standard UAS rules. You can find detailed information by clicking the link below.
Canada
For flights inside Canada, the rules are similar to the United-States. You’ll have to be careful about the wattage and the way you transport them. Just like for the USA, the wattage limit is at 100Wh and you are limited on the quantity you can bring, and this will depend on the company you fly with. See the Air Canada link below for examples. When flying inside Canada, the same rules apply countrywide, so no need to get a different license or permit. If you are within regulation in your home district, you’ll be within the rules elsewhere also.
Guidelines for Batteries - CATSA (catsa-acsta.gc.ca)
Restricted / Prohibited Items (aircanada.com)
Travelling with Lithium Batteries by Air (canada.ca)
Europe
The rules for carrying your batteries on airplanes are the same as for the USA and Canada. The point where the differences start is for the flying regulations in Europe. You will have to read up on your specific country you’re visiting. Please see the following links to guide your research.
passenger-lithium-battery.pdf (iata.org)
Travelling with drones | EASA (europa.eu)
Keep in mind every country has differing rules pertaining to drones, so read up on your country of visit before packing anything. Border officers have the right to confiscate your equipment if they deem necessary, it’s part of traveling with custom built FPV drones. Enjoy your adventure abroad with your drones!
For any additional questions, contact me at info@epicfpv.ca