Drone Rules for Palácio Duque de Caxias
The airspace over and surrounding the Palácio Duque de Caxias (PDC) (Headquarters of the Eastern Military Command) in Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, is classified as a strictly restricted military defense zone. Unauthorized civilian drone flights are completely banned within this airspace to protect strategic command.
The Palácio Duque de Caxias serves as the historic and active headquarters for the Eastern Military Command (Comando Militar do Leste - CML) of the Brazilian Army. This massive administrative and tactical hub coordinates army operations across multiple states. Because it is a core strategic command post, the entire physical perimeter and its immediate airspace are heavily protected against unauthorized aerial surveillance, photography, and mapping.
Operating a civilian drone near high-level military headquarters poses immediate risks to defense communications and operational privacy. Additionally, this facility is located in a dense urban sector of Rio de Janeiro, close to major transit avenues and central helicopter routes, meaning any uncoordinated flight risks a severe collision. Under DECEA regulation ICA 100-40 and the Brazilian Penal Code, unauthorized drone deployment over active military command installations is illegal and subject to immediate electronic jamming, equipment seizure, and federal criminal charges.