The airspace over the magnificent Serra da Canastra National Park is open to responsible drone flight operations under strict ecological preservation and safety guidelines. Protecting a vast area of the Brazilian cerrado biome, this conservation unit is home to rare wildlife, ancient rocky fields, and deep valleys. Drone pilots have a spectacular opportunity to legally record the massive cliffs where rivers plunge into canyons, but flights must be conducted with absolute care to protect the environment and visitors.
























Regulatory Framework & Permissions: Drone operations are allowed for recreational and landscape capturing. All operators must ensure their aircraft is fully registered with ANAC and ANATEL, and flights must strictly follow DECEA regulations (ICA 100-40) for unmanned aircraft.




Flight Authorization & Coordination: Standard recreational flights over the general open trails and lookouts do not require a specialized individual environmental permit, but you must log your flight intent and secure normal clearance through the SARPAS portal. For professional, commercial, or documentary media productions inside the park boundaries, obtaining prior written authorization from the ICMBio park administration is mandatory.

Geofencing & Flight Conditions: The park's coordinates are not permanently blocked by manufacturer-level Red Zones in drone firmware, meaning your aircraft will unlock and take off normally. Contudo, os pilotos devem ter muita atenção com as condições atmosféricas nos altos chapadões, onde ventos fortes e rajadas repentinas podem desestabilizar o aparelho e acelerar o consumo da bateria.



Environmental & Safety Restrictions: To keep your flights legal, drones must never disturb or closely track the local fauna, which includes endangered species like the giant anteater (tamanduá-bandeira), maned wolf (lobo-guará), and birds of prey. Além disso, os operadores devem manter uma distância segura e respeitável dos turistas que visitam os mirantes ou tomam banho nos poços das cachoeiras (como a base da Casca d'Anta) para garantir a privacidade e a segurança pública.


Legal Penalties: Operating a drone recklessly over visitors, harassing wild animals, or flying without a valid SARPAS clearance will lead to immediate flight termination by park rangers. 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 for endangering airspace safety.

# IMPORTANT NOTICE: Drone Operations Prohibited in Sete Cidades National Park

### AUTHORIZATION STATUS: CRITICAL PERMIT REQUIRED (RECREATIONAL FLIGHTS 100% BANNED)
* **Recreational / Amateur Flights:** Completely forbidden. There are no instant or paid tourist permits available anywhere within the park boundaries.
* **Commercial, Media, or Research Flights:** Allowed ONLY under exceptional circumstances. Requires a mandatory, minimum 45-day technical and archaeological review, environmental licensing from ICMBio, and cultural clearance from IPHAN.

---

Operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV/drone) inside this federal conservation unit without prior official clearance is illegal due to strict environmental protection laws, civil aviation codes, and the preservation of irreplaceable archaeological heritage.

### 🗺️ Geographic Map Boundaries (Where it is prohibited)

The flight ban applies to the entire official polygon of 6,221 hectares (62.2 km²) of the National Park, located in the northern part of the state of Piauí, within the municipalities of Piracuruca and Brasileira.
* **Rock Formations Sectors:** Covers all seven geological "cities" (structural rock complexes), including the iconic Three Heads, the Map of Brazil, and the Library rock formations.
* **Archaeological Sites:** Absolute no-fly zones around all stone walls containing prehistoric cave paintings (*pinturas rupestres*), where physical drone impacts pose a catastrophic threat.
* **Natural Springs and Trails Corridor:** Includes the Olho d'Água dos Milagres and the pedestrian walking trails used by ecotourists.

### 📜 Key Regulations and Specific Legal Articles

* **ICMBio Normative Instruction No. 61/2020:** Federal administrative ordinance governing all Conservation Units in Brazil, completely banning recreational remote-controlled aviation inside National Parks.
* **IPHAN Heritage Protection Regulations:** Sete Cidades protects crucial archaeological records. Under federal law, unauthorized aerial activities that endanger national archaeological monuments are strictly forbidden to prevent irreversible physical degradation from accidental drone crashes.
* **Federal Law No. 9,605/1998 (Environmental Crimes Act - Art. 29, 40 & 62):** Penalizes any action that damages cultural or natural heritage. High-frequency drone noise also disturbs local Caatinga fauna, such as the Jaguarundi, iguanas, and nesting birds of prey that utilize the rocky crevices.

### ⚖️ Penalties for Violations

Failure to comply with these federal regulations will result in immediate legal actions:
1. **Immediate Equipment Seizure:** Physical confiscation of the drone, remote controller, and all storage media by Park Rangers or Environmental Authorities.
2. **Administrative Financial Sanctions:** Severe environmental and heritage fines applied by ICMBio and IPHAN starting at R$ 5,000.00.
3. **Criminal Penalties:** Detention and criminal prosecution under the Brazilian Penal Code for endangering public safety and committing crimes against national archaeological heritage.

### 🎥 Official Media and Research Licensing (How to request)

For institutional, scientific, or licensed commercial cinematography:
* Permits must be requested at least 45 business days in advance through the official ICMBio SISBIO System and approved by IPHAN.
* Pilots must obtain specific airspace clearance via the DECEA SARPAS system, matching the precise coordinates of the intended geological sector.

***
Thank you for protecting our prehistoric heritage, respecting Caatinga wildlife, and helping preserve the natural integrity of Sete Cidades National Park.

The airspace over the magnificent Serra da Canastra National Park is open to responsible drone flight operations under strict ecological preservation and safety guidelines. Protecting a vast area of the Brazilian cerrado biome, this conservation unit is home to rare wildlife, ancient rocky fields, and deep valleys. Drone pilots have a spectacular opportunity to legally record the massive cliffs where rivers plunge into canyons, but flights must be conducted with absolute care to protect the environment and visitors.

Regulatory Framework & Permissions: Drone operations are allowed for recreational and landscape capturing. All operators must ensure their aircraft is fully registered with ANAC and ANATEL, and flights must strictly follow DECEA regulations (ICA 100-40) for unmanned aircraft.

Flight Authorization & Coordination: Standard recreational flights over the general open trails and lookouts do not require a specialized individual environmental permit, but you must log your flight intent and secure normal clearance through the SARPAS portal. For professional, commercial, or documentary media productions inside the park boundaries, obtaining prior written authorization from the ICMBio park administration is mandatory.

Geofencing & Flight Conditions: The park's coordinates are not permanently blocked by manufacturer-level Red Zones in drone firmware, meaning your aircraft will unlock and take off normally. Contudo, os pilotos devem ter muita atenção com as condições atmosféricas nos altos chapadões, onde ventos fortes e rajadas repentinas podem desestabilizar o aparelho e acelerar o consumo da bateria.

Environmental & Safety Restrictions: To keep your flights legal, drones must never disturb or closely track the local fauna, which includes endangered species like the giant anteater (tamanduá-bandeira), maned wolf (lobo-guará), and birds of prey. Além disso, os operadores devem manter uma distância segura e respeitável dos turistas que visitam os mirantes ou tomam banho nos poços das cachoeiras (como a base da Casca d'Anta) para garantir a privacidade e a segurança pública.

Legal Penalties: Operating a drone recklessly over visitors, harassing wild animals, or flying without a valid SARPAS clearance will lead to immediate flight termination by park rangers. 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 for endangering airspace safety.