Drone Laws in Zambia

Zambia Drone Regulations

According to Zambia’s national aviation authority, the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA),  flying a drone is legal in Zambia, but we recommend being aware of and compliant with the drone regulations listed below before doing so.

If you’d like to contact the ZCAA directly before you travel with any questions you might have, here is their contact information: ZCAA Contact Form / +260 211 251861

Why fly a drone in Zambia? To get great aerial shots like these!

General Rules for Flying a Drone in Zambia

Based on our research and interpretation of the laws, here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Zambia.

• Drones may fly up to a maximum of 120 meters (394 feet).
• Drones must be kept within the visual line of sight, and the maximum horizontal distance from the pilot cannot exceed 500 meters (1,640 feet).
• Drone insurance is required for drone operations in Zambia.
• Drones cannot be flown 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) or less from an airport.
• Drones cannot be flown near sensitive areas, including nuclear power plants, prisons, police stations, crime scenes or major national facilities.
• Drones cannot be launched or landed on public roads.
• Drones cannot be operated night.
• Drones in Zambia must carry a license plate indicating nationality and registration number. A drone cannot be used for private use when it weighs more than 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).

For more information on Zambia’s drone laws, see this document created by the ZCAA.

Know something we don’t about drone laws in Zambia? Send us an email at support[at]horizonap[dot]com. We are not international aviation attorneys and do our best to keep this page up-to-date for drone pilots, but the reality is that given the pace of the small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industry and how governments are responding, drone regulations in Zambia can change throughout the year, and those changes can be hard to track. If we missed something, please reach out to let us know.

Licensing Requirements for Flying a Drone in Zambia

Commercial drone pilots operating in Zambia must hold a Remote Pilot License (RPL) issued by the ZCAA.

To obtain an RPL, pilots must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a medical report.
• Have sufficient English language proficiency and pass the required exams offered by the ZCAA.

Learn more about how to obtain a license for commercial drone operations in Zambia starting on page 15 of this document issued by the ZCAA.

Want to get a feel for the kind of footage you could get flying a drone in Zambia? Here you go: