Drone Rules for USP Clock Square
Fly Status: Highly Restricted / Conditional Authorization Required The Praça do Relógio (USP/SP) is private university property. Recreational drone flight is effectively prohibited. Academic or professional use requires prior formal authorization from the Prefeitura do Campus (PUSP).
Explanation The Praça do Relógio is a central landmark within the University of São Paulo (USP) campus. Because the campus is a private institutional area with high pedestrian density, academic activities, and administrative security protocols, "free-flight" claims are false.
Why recreational flight is barred:
University Property Rights: The Prefeitura do Campus (PUSP) maintains control over all university spaces. Similar to other USP campuses (like Lorena or São Carlos), regulations generally prohibit recreational and hobbyist drone use to protect the integrity of students, researchers, and campus infrastructure.
Security Protocols: The Guarda Universitária is authorized to intervene in any activity that poses a risk to public safety or interferes with academic operations. Drones are seen as a potential safety hazard and a privacy concern.
Strict Authorization: If you have an academic or journalistic purpose, you must follow a formal bureaucratic process. You cannot simply show up and fly.
How to navigate the "legal-proof" path:
Formal Request: You must contact the Prefeitura do Campus (PUSP-SP) to verify current protocols. Typically, you need a document signed by a faculty member or unit director stating that the flight is for research, teaching, or official university interest.
Federal Compliance: Even with university permission, you are bound by federal law:
Registration: Your drone must be registered in the SISANT (ANAC).
Flight Plan: A flight plan in the SARPAS NG (DECEA) is mandatory for any operation within controlled or sensitive airspace.
Distance: You must comply with the 30-meter safety buffer from people not involved in the flight (RBAC 94).
Insurance: For any professional/institutional flight, third-party liability insurance (RETA) is mandatory.