Drone Rules for Ponte da Madalena
Drone flights are allowed over the Ponte da Madalena and Jacaranema area for recreational and commercial filming. Pilots must strictly limit altitude to avoid nearby airport buffers and ensure they do not harass, disturb, or film local wildlife at close range within the ecological reserve.
The Ponte da Madalena is a historic wooden bridge that serves as the gateway to the Jacaranema Ecological Reserve (Parque Municipal de Jacaranema), a vital coastal mangrove and restinga ecosystem in Vila Velha. Flying drones here is permitted and highly popular for capturing the scenic intersection of the Jucu River and the ocean.
However, because Jacaranema is an environmentally protected municipal reserve, pilots must operate with high ecological awareness. Drones must not be used to chase, closely approach, or disturb migratory birds and local fauna nesting in the mangroves. Additionally, while the area is open for flight, it sits geographically close to the approach corridors for Vitória Airport (SBVT) and the training zones for the Aeroclube do Espírito Santo. Pilots must keep their drones within visual line of sight (VLOS), strictly respect the altitude limits dictated by their SARPAS clearance, and immediately yield the airspace to any low-flying manned helicopters or planes.
Regulatory & Environmental Authorities: DECEA (Department of Airspace Control), ANAC, and SEMMA (Vila Velha Municipal Secretariat of Environment).
Primary Framework: Brazilian Air Force Instruction ICA 100-40 (UAS Operations) and Municipal Law establishing the Parque Municipal de Jacaranema conservation guidelines.
Flight Planning Portal: Standard flight intentions and localized altitude caps must be verified and registered through DECEA's official SARPAS NG system.