Drone Rules for Serra Catarinense São Joaquim
You can legally fly your drone at Serra do Corvo Branco, as the airspace is completely open for responsible use. To ensure a safe and successful flight, you must register your drone with ANAC/ANATEL, log your flight plan on the SARPAS system, keep a safe distance from all vehicle traffic, and strictly avoid flying in h
The airspace over the dramatic and world-famous Serra do Corvo Branco is open to responsible drone flight operations under strict safety guidelines. Known for its imposing vertical stone walls and narrow, twisting mountain road, this region provides a spectacular and challenging setting for legal aerial content creation. To ensure safety, pilots must operate with maximum caution, especially given the extreme topography and unpredictable winds prevalent in this high-altitude canyon.
Regulatory Framework & Permissions: Drone operations are allowed for recreational and landscape capturing. All operators must ensure their aircraft is properly registered with ANAC and ANATEL, and flights must strictly follow DECEA regulations (ICA 100-40) for unmanned aircraft.
Flight Authorization & Coordination: Standard recreational flights do not require specialized individual permits, but you must log your flight path and request clearance via the SARPAS portal. For professional, commercial, or documentary media productions involving the road or the stone cut, obtaining prior authorization is highly recommended, especially to avoid disrupting traffic or causing safety hazards for vehicles navigating the tight curves.
Geofencing & Flight Conditions: The area's coordinates are not blocked by permanent firmware-level Red Zones, meaning your aircraft will unlock and take off normally. However, pilots must be extremely careful with the "canyon effect," where wind currents accelerate dramatically through the narrow rock cut, posing a high risk of losing aircraft control or experiencing signal interference against the cliff faces.
Environmental & Access Restrictions: To keep your flights legal, drones must never be used to track vehicles or harass wildlife. Operators must maintain a safe distance from other visitors and viewpoints to protect public privacy and safety.
Legal Penalties: Flying a drone recklessly over the road or vehicles, or operating without proper SARPAS logging, will lead to immediate flight termination by local rangers or authorities. Violations are subject to equipment confiscation, heavy administrative fines, and criminal prosecution under Article 261 of the Brazilian Penal Code if airspace safety is compromised.