Drone Rules for Red Beach
Open with Limitations (No Coordination Required up to 40 meters / 130 feet) Praia do Bananal (Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis, RJ) operates under the open regulatory airspace framework of DECEA's ICA 100-40. Drone flights are permitted without prior DECEA coordination, provided the aircraft stays at or below 40 meters.
Praia do Bananal is a secluded, narrow strip of sand located on the northern coast of Ilha Grande. Known for its calm, crystalline green waters, traditional caiçara culture, and dense Atlantic Forest backdrop, it is a textbook "niche" small beach. Because the island sits completely clear of the restricted airport approach paths on the mainland, it offers an ideal open airspace profile for low-altitude scenic filming.
However, the localized geography of a small island beach requires careful flight planning. The actual beach zone is quite narrow, meaning finding a launch point that maintains ANAC's mandatory 30-meter (100-foot) horizontal buffer from non-consenting tourists or local residents can be tight. Pilots should prioritize launching from open dock areas or clear rocky clearings when people are present. Additionally, the dense tropical canopy blanketing the steep hills right behind the sand can easily degrade GPS signals and cause unexpected wind drafts. Maintaining strict visual line of sight (VLOS) is critical to avoid tree collisions.