Drone Rules for Sobradinho Dam
The airspace over and surrounding the Sobradinho Hydroelectric Power Plant (UHE Sobradinho) (Sobradinho, BA) is classified as a Critical National Infrastructure Protection Zone. Civilian drone flights are strictly prohibited directly over the massive dam structure, the powerhouse, the shipping lock (eclusa).
The Usina Hidrelétrica de Sobradinho, located on the São Francisco River in the state of Bahia, is one of the largest and most strategically vital energy and water management assets in Brazil. Managed by CHESF (Companhia Hidroelétrica do São Francisco, a subsidiary of Eletrobras), its reservoir is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world by surface area, serving as the primary multi-year water stabilization system for the entire Northeast region. The complex also features a massive shipping lock (eclusa) vital for regional river navigation.
To legally operate a drone in the surrounding public buffer zones of the Sobradinho dam, pilots must secure explicit written permission from Eletrobras CHESF, register the aircraft with ANAC, obtain mandatory third-party liability insurance (RETA), and file a formal flight plan via DECEA's SARPAS NG portal. Unauthorized operators flying within the facility perimeters face immediate detention by site security or local law enforcement, equipment seizure, and federal prosecution under laws protecting essential public utilities.