Drone Rules for Parque Jornalista Eduardo Couri (Barragem Santa Lúcia)
Conditional Airspace Zone covering Parque Jornalista Eduardo Couri (Barragem Santa Lúcia). Drone operations are allowed but heavily restricted due to the park's location inside a dense urban center and its immediate proximity to active helicopter flight paths and private helipads.
Parque Jornalista Eduardo Couri, widely known as the Barragem Santa Lúcia park, is a popular public recreational area in the South-Central zone of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. While drones are legally permitted to operate here, the airspace is highly sensitive. The park sits within a bustling urban valley surrounded by residential towers and corporate buildings, many of which feature private helipads with frequent executive helicopter traffic.
To fly a drone safely and legally in this area, operators must adhere to strict urban flight protocols. Recreational and commercial pilots are required by law to maintain a minimum safe lateral distance of 30 meters from unconsented bystanders (unless the drone weighs under 250 grams). Additionally, flights must not exceed the strict altitude ceilings designated for this urban sector by the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA) to prevent conflicts with low-flying helicopters. Prior registration of the pilot and drone on ANAC's SISANT system, a valid third-party insurance policy (RETA), and formal flight authorization through the SARPAS NG portal are mandatory before takeoff.
Sources
Regulatory Authorities: Department of Airspace Control (DECEA) and the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
Primary Framework: ICA 100-40 (DECEA regulations on Unmanned Aircraft Systems) and ANAC Brazilian Civil Aviation Regulation (RBAC) No. 94.
Flight Planning Portal: Real-time altitude limits, urban airspace safety grids, and mandatory flight creation are managed via SARPAS NG and Aisweb.