Drone Rules for Chapada das Mesas National Park
You can legally fly your drone at Chapada das Mesas National Park, as the airspace is open for responsible use. To ensure a safe and legal flight, you must register your drone with ANAC/ANATEL, log your flight on the SARPAS system, keep a safe distance from other visitors, and strictly avoid disturbing the local wildli
The airspace over the majestic Chapada das Mesas National Park is open to responsible drone flight operations under tailored ecological safety guidelines. Protecting a massive area of the Brazilian Cerrado biome, the park offers an unparalleled landscape for legal aerial cinematography. Because it serves as an environmental sanctuary for numerous species and features complex rock canyons, pilots must carefully balance their flights with nature preservation.
Regulatory Framework & Permissions: Drone operations are fully allowed for recreational and environmental capturing. All operators must ensure their aircraft is registered with ANAC and ANATEL, and flights must strictly follow DECEA regulations (ICA 100-40) for unmanned aircraft.
Flight Authorization & Coordination: Standard flights within the open tourism sectors do not require a specialized individual environmental permit, but you must submit your flight plan and obtain clearance via the SARPAS portal. For professional, commercial, or documentary media creation, you must secure prior written authorization directly from the park's ICMBio administration.
Geofencing & Flight Conditions: The park's coordinates are not blocked by permanent firmware-level Red Zones by drone manufacturers, meaning your aircraft will unlock and take off normally. However, pilots must remain highly vigilant of the intense local heat and sudden wind drafts near large canyons and heavy waterfalls, which can affect battery life and aircraft stability.
Environmental Restrictions: To ensure flights remain legal, drones must never disturb or closely approach the local fauna (such as birds of prey nesting in the rock walls or monkeys). Additionally, operators must maintain a safe distance from crowded tourist areas, natural pools, and ecological trails to respect visitor privacy and prevent any accidental collisions.
Legal Penalties: Flying a drone recklessly, harassing wild animals, or operating without SARPAS logging will lead to immediate flight termination by park rangers. Violations are subject to equipment confiscation, heavy administrative fines under Brazilian environmental protection laws, and prosecution under Article 261 of the Brazilian Penal Code if airspace safety is compromised.