The State of Israel is so tiny that finding it on the globe is like finding a needle in a haystack. The tiny area, the holy places, the borders with enemy countries all around, and above all the security sensitivity, fire areas, and army camps make it difficult to bring in a drone and fly it, especially for a tourist. To fly a drone with peace of mind, you must know some basic rules and follow several steps that will be presented below, especially to obtain a special permit to fly a drone.
the Ministry of Communications, Tax Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) require the appropriate official document for entering and flying a drone. When you enter the country you must have this document with you in hand, ready to be presented at the airport accordingly. To achieve this document register through the Israeli Drone Organization ICD.
Registering Through ICD
To achieve the official document, register through ICD-Israeli Drone Organization or another license holder as Aeroclub. Its links:
ICD: https://www.icd.org.il/ Aeroclub: http://www.aeroclub.org.il/
ICD is preferable since it mainly deals with drones.
After registration, you will receive the permit by email. upon completion of the registration, you have been added automatically to the WhatsApp group. Because the laws are not clear and sometimes with double meanings, as well as the lack of updated official websites any questions or unclear issues regarding registration or flying the drone, you welcome to contact ICD through email or with the following phone numbers
Email: UAV@icd.org.il or office@icd.org.il
For Hebrew calls: 052-5076644
For English calls: +972505526677
Whatsapp: + 972 52 507 6644
Registration Process
When you enter the ICD link, you will be able to see the ICD organization profile as well as language selection for registration
chose language then u will see a button for registration.
The registration costs about 100$. It can take several days for getting the permit by email.
Required registration fields are:
First Name
Last Name
Email
Passport number
Phone Number
Date of entry to Israel
Departure date Israel
Drone Model
Serial Number Drone
Address
Basic (international) Drone Laws
Maintain a height of no more than 50 meters from the ground
It is mandatory to maintain constant eye contact with the drone
Airports - keep a distance of 2 km from the field
Stadiums - it is forbidden to fly over or near people
It is forbidden to fly inside a residential neighborhood near public buildings or gatherings of people, stay at least 250 meters away
It is forbidden to fly near aviation sports sites (landing, hover parachute, air glider, parachutes, and gliders with an auxiliary engine, etc.)
Do not fly near prisons or power plants such as refineries and power stations
It is forbidden to fly near/into military bases, fire areas, police stations
It is forbidden to fly near/into border areas
It is forbidden to fly near/into security facilities or security area
For restricted drone flying areas look at the maps below,
and if you are in doubt, call ICD.
Additional Restrictions For Tourists:
Tourists can fly drones only for recreational purposes. For business purposes, you must contact the organization ICD.
Every three months you must renew the flight permit, by contacting the ICD
Small drone is the same as a big drone as long as it has a camera
It is very worthwhile to note that if you fly a drone right near the border, (especially if u are a tourist) the IDF can intercept it, and then interrogate you about the activity near the border. The investigation is more in-depth if you are a tourist.
Just to give you an example of the security sensitivity in Israel (although it is a plane and not a drone). Flight of Libyan Airlines took off a flight from Tripoli to Cairo. Due to a navigation error, the plane entered Israel's sensitive airspace and was shot down by Israeli Air Force planes.
Drone Flight Frequency
Today the world of drones exists in two forms of transmission, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequency. Until recently it was forbidden in Israel to fly a drone with a frequency of 5.8Ghz, More than that, if you arrived with a drone with only this frequency, there is a big chance that your drone will be confiscated, And if you flew a drone with such frequency, and were caught (this rule was for citizens too), you received a significant fine. This frequency was for the military.
Now, they are gradually allowing the flying of drones at the 5.8Ghz frequency with a specific permit. That's why before you enter the country, with a drone of 5.8Ghz frequency or a drone with two frequencies, 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz, consult the ICD organization.
The largest drone company in the world, DJI, managed to solve the problem of the use of 5.8Ghz frequency around the world with the help of GPS data, the system locates the location of the drone in the world and transfers it automatically to work on legal frequency.
Small drones
The rules apply to any drone, whether a low-weight or a toy drone. As long as it has a camera, all the laws apply to it because of the security sensitivity in Israel.
If it is a drone without a camera and 2.4GHz frequency, then the same normal laws apply to this drone as for any drone and there is no need for registration or a special declaration. for 5.8GHz consult the ICD organization
No Fly Zones – Colors and Area Categories
Access the following link to get the map of the NFZ regions with the option to move, zoom in\out. Once a week the map will be updated by the organization ICD:
Colors in the map
All marked areas are prohibited from flying without any distinction of color, sex, race, or religion. The areas are marked with different colors. Each color has a meaning. Pay special attention to areas with security sensitivity. DJI has its map which will be presented below.
Usually, those areas are divided into colors categories:
Green color: Nature and Parks Authority
Red color: border flight prohibition + security + facilities
Purple color: The Nature and Parks Authority according to the PMA (Publication of intrastate aviation information)
Blue color: airport + airstrips
Yellow-orange color: closure according to DJI
Orange color: closure according to the PMA (Publication of intrastate aviation information) LLP/ U/ R/ D /
To the left of the map, there are categories of no-fly zones
Of course, u can zoom out/in move for clarity, and focus on a specific area. For that, access the link above. Which is :
Here are the area categories:
No fly zone for drone
Information from the nature and parks authority – flight restrictions
Flying the aircraft is prohibited – by any existing law of the nature and parks authority
nature and parks authority flight prohibition 1
nature and parks authority flight prohibition 2
nature and parks authority flight prohibition 3
fire area
If u press any color in the map of the link above, u get an NFZ explanation.
Protection of Birds
Israel is considered a major migration axis for about 500 million birds that pass through it twice a year.
Prohibition of operating a drone or multi-bladed drone in nature reserves and national parks to prevent damage to endangered birds and protected natural values. There are months when this limit does not exist, so for clarification, you should ask in the WhatsApp group you were attached to or consult with the ICD organization mentioned above.
DJI Map
DJI has its map with the markings NFZ and colors
DJI locks certain areas so you can't fly the drone there.
On the company's website, you can view the map and the areas where they block the option of flying a drone. You can unlock this restriction by contacting ICD. Also, it locks automatically the 5.8GHz frequency.
Link to the map: https://www.dji.com/flysafe/geo-map.
Here example of part of the map, NFZin Israel.
Summarize
To sum it up, Israel has wild and special landscapes, you can have a lot of fun using a drone, when you register beforehand, show a permit when you enter the country, and make sure you are flying on a 2.4GHz frequency (for 5.8 GHz consult ICD) and not near borders. Any questions or problems simply contact the ICD organization by mail or phone mentioned above, Or in the WhatsApp group. they will be very happy to help you.
So have a nice flight here and a nice flight with the quadcopter
Email: UAV@icd.org.il or office@icd.org.il
For Hebrew calls: 052-5076644
For English calls: +972505526677
Whatsapp: + 972 52 507 6644