Drone Rules for Caeté-Açu
You can legally fly your drone in the Vale do Capão, as the airspace is completely open for responsible use. To ensure a safe and successful flight, you must register your drone with ANAC/ANATEL, log your flight plan on the SARPAS system, respect the privacy and tranquility of the local community and trekkers, and stri
The airspace over the picturesque Vale do Capão is open to responsible drone flight operations under strict ecological preservation and safety guidelines. Characterized by its rolling mountain ranges, deep valleys, and expansive plateaus, this region provides a truly spectacular setting for legal aerial content creation. To preserve this sensitive environment, operations must be conducted with absolute respect for the local community and the vast, protected areas of the Chapada Diamantina National Park.
Regulatory Framework & Permissions: Drone operations are allowed for recreational and landscape capturing. All operators must ensure their aircraft is properly registered with ANAC and ANATEL, and flights must strictly follow DECEA regulations (ICA 100-40) for unmanned aircraft.
Flight Authorization & Coordination: Standard recreational flights do not require specialized individual permits, but you must log your flight path and request clearance via the SARPAS portal. For professional, commercial, or documentary media productions within the National Park boundaries, obtaining prior written authorization from the ICMBio park management is mandatory.
Geofencing & Flight Conditions: The coordinates are not blocked by permanent firmware-level Red Zones, meaning your aircraft will unlock and take off normally. However, pilots must be exceptionally prepared for extreme mountain conditions: high-altitude winds, sudden updrafts near the cliff faces of the plateaus, and rapid temperature changes that impact battery performance.
Environmental & Access Restrictions: To keep your flights legal, drones must never disturb local fauna or harass protected bird species. Operators must maintain a safe distance from hikers on the popular trails (like the trek to the Fumaça waterfall) to protect public privacy and preserve the serene atmosphere for which the valley is known.
Legal Penalties: Flying a drone recklessly over hikers, harassing wildlife, or operating without proper SARPAS logging will lead to immediate flight termination by park rangers or local authorities. Violations are subject to equipment confiscation, heavy administrative fines under federal environmental protection laws, and criminal prosecution under Article 261 of the Brazilian Penal Code if airspace safety is compromised.