Drone Regulations: Nicaragua
Contributor: Alina Nassar
General
1. Are UAS considered as “aircraft” in your country?
Yes, UAS are considered aircraft according to the Regulation No. 34-2014 issued by the Nicaraguan Institute for Civil Aviation (INAC by itsacronym in Spanish). This regulation establishes that aircraft capable of flying without a pilot are not allowed to operate in Nicaraguan territory.
2. Which bodies regulate the remotely-piloted and/or unmanned aircraft operations in your country, under what basic laws?
The Civil Aviation Act No. 595 issued on August 3rd, 2006 regulates the aeronautic activity in Nicaragua. INAC is the civil aviation authority in thiscountry and it issued, in the year 2014, the Regulation No. 34-2014 that prohibited the use of UAS operating higher than 100 feet with ahorizontal displacement of 30 meters, arguing that they are dangerous for the aircraft flying in the national airspace.
3. Is there a distinction between “State UAS” and “Private UAS”?
The Regulation does not make a distinction between State UAS and Private UAS.
4. Is there any distinction between public, leisure and commercial UAS? What regulations are provided for UAS operations in each group?
There are no distinctions regarding public, leisure, or commercial UAS.
5. Is there a distinction, in terms of regulation, between completely autonomous UAS and remotely-piloted UAS?
No.
Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS”) Operations - Safety
6. How are UAS operations regulated in terms of safety?
In Nicaragua the operation of UAS above 100 feet with a horizontal displacement of 30 meters is not allowed based on safety reasons.
7. Is the applicable regulation considering the rule of 1 UAS = 1 pilot?
The Regulation does not make any reference to pilots.
Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems ("UAS") Operations - Licensing
8. What procedures are there to obtain licenses or the rights to operate UAS?
There are not procedures or requirements established to obtain licenses or the rights to operate UAS. However, a permit can be requested toINAC if the UAS is going to be operated under 100 feet. Once INAC receives the request it will inspect the drone.
9. Are there any kind of taxes or fees regarding the licensing procedure?
If a UAS is authorized to operate it must pay the following fees:
Description Amount Permit for introducing remotely controlled UAS $50 Permit for inspecting remotely controlled UAS $5010. Is a Certificate of Airworthiness mandatory to operate a UAS?
No.
11. Is access to the market for the provision of UAS operation services regulated and, if so, how?
According to INAC, UAS are not allowed to enter the country and consequently they cannot be commercialized.
12. What requirements apply in the areas of financial strength and nationality of ownership regarding control of UAS?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
13. Is drone transport permitted / regulated in your country?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems ("UAS") - Operations - Others
14. Is there a specific Data & Privacy Protection regulation applicable to UAS operations?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
15. Is there a specific control-link interference regulation applicable to UAS operations?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
16. Do specific rules regulate UAS manufacturers?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
17. What requirements must a foreign UAS operator satisfy in order to operate to or from your country?
Considering the prohibition to operate UAS in the country, INAC has not established the requirements for foreign UAS operators.
18. Are fares or pricing of UAS operations regulated and, if so, how?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
The Aircraft (“UAS”)
19. Must UAS be registered in any particular register?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
20. Who is entitled to be mentioned in the UAS register?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
21. Do requirements or limitations apply to the ownership of a UAS listed on your country’s register?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
22. Do specific rules regulate the maintenance of UAS?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
Operation Zones
23. Which are the operational and distance limitations for an aerial work with a UAS? Is there any kind of certificate or permission to operate beyond those limitations?
As it was mentioned before, Regulation No. 34-2014 prohibited the use of UAS operating higher than 100 feet with a horizontal displacementof 30 meters. It is not possible to obtain a permit to operate beyond these limitations.
24. Are UAS obliged to take off from and/or land in specific facilities?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
25. Which kind of airspaces are UAS permitted to operate with?
They are allowed to operate in spaces under 100 feet above ground level.
26. Which airspaces are restricted for UAS?
The airspace above 100 feet.
27. Which zones are UAS operations banned?
Airspace where UAS can operate higher than 100 feet with a horizontal displacement of 30 meters is banned by INAC.
28. Who provides air traffic control services for UAS in your country?
INAC and Traffic Air Control.
Liability and Accidents
29. Are there any special rules in respect of loss or damage to cargo?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
30. Are there any special rules about the liability of UAS operators for surface damage?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
31. Is there a mandatory accident and incident reporting system and, if so, how does it operate?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
32. What system and procedures are in place for the investigation of UAS accidents?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
33. Are UAS operators obliged to have insurance for their operations? If so, which are their main features?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
34. What is insured? The operator, the business or the aircraft?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
Financial Support and State Aid
35. Are there sector-specific rules regulating direct or indirect financial support to companies by the government or government-controlled agencies or companies (state aid) in the UAS sector? If not, do general state aid rules apply?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
36. What are the main principles of the stated aid rules applicable to the UAS sector?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
37. Are there exemptions from the state aid rules or situations in which they do not apply?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.
38. Must clearance from the competition authorities be obtained before state aid may be granted?
There is not an express regulation on this matter.