REGULATIONS

Tanzanian drone regulations have been published in May 2017. The rules are clear and straightforward, and you can find them here.  

Tanzania is on the forefront of drone-based mapping operations, with programs in Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar leading the way with groundbreaking techniques. 

We strongly recommend hiring a Tanzanian drone operator for work inside the country, or to help facilitate your permitting and importation into Tanzania. We can recommend reliable and professional drone operators upon request. 

operation

The Tanzanian regulations state that light drones (under 7kg) can be operated privately by submitting an application, which is contained in the regulations linked above. 

Operating the same drone commercially requires an additional approval from the Ministry of Defense, and a company operations manual (paragraph 6.4). 

In addition, the pilot must have a a licence from one of the following certification organizations.

i. The British Model Flying Association

ii. Model Flying New Zealand

iii. Model Aeronautical Association of Australia

iv. Model Aeronautics Association of Canada

v. Federal Aviation Administration FAA (UAS Division Certification)

vi. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)

vii. New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (NZ CAA)

viii. United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA)

ix. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

x. Civil Aviation Authority South Africa (SACAA) 

Currently, it is unclear whether or not Tanzanian citizens without training from the below organizations are able to fly, as there are no approved training organizations yet in the country.    

Applications for commercial flight operations must be submitted to the TCAA, who in theory should approve them in less than 48 hours. There is no cost specified. 

For more information or to be put in touch with an approved drone organization please contact us. 

UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TANZANIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY Aeronautical Information Services Nyerere/ Kitunda Road Junction Aviation House, 1st Floor, P.O. Box 2819, DAR ES SALAAM

Fax: (255) 22 2844300, 2844302

PHONE: (255) 22 2198100, 2844291

E-MAIL: tcaa@tcaa.go.tz, ais@tcaa.go.tz

MAPS

SkyVector: Online aviation maps of the world.

AirMap: App created expressly for drone flight. 

Notams List: Updates from the KCAA on temporarily restricted flight zones (note: this should also be integrated into AirMap). 

How to read a VFR Aviation Chart: Written by the US FAA, this helpful .pdf (right-click to download) will help you understand the often-confusing world of aviation charts, which are crucial to planning drone flights. 

Planefinder.net: This site (which also has an app for your phone) shows the locations of all large airplanes in the world, which can be helpful to visualize flight patterns around airports and cities. 

Insurance

NPPA Insurance Advantage: Unfortunately this policy only covers US drone pilots traveling to Africa, but they will insure your drone against loss from crashing and theft.