In response to security concerns, Thailand enforces stringent restrictions on drone usage in strategic border zones.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has issued a directive banning the operation of drones in specific areas deemed critical to national security, with severe penalties for violators.
Under the new regulations, drone flights are prohibited in sensitive border provinces and designated high-risk or security zones. The ban also extends to a nine-kilometre radius of any airport or temporary landing site.
Violators face prosecution with penalties including imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not exceeding 40,000 baht (about 1,235 USD), or both, according to Section 78(1) of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497 (1954) and its subsequent amendments.
Military authorities are authorized to immediately destroy or intercept unauthorized drones violating the ban, especially in sensitive border provinces or within the specified areas. Reporting channels for violations include CAAT, the Police Anti-Drone Centre, and local police or military agencies.
However, the CAAT's directive does not specify the nature or extent of the penalties for violating the drone flight ban. It also does not address how violators will be identified or apprehended. Additionally, the areas beyond the designated exclusion zones where the absolute drone flight prohibition applies have not been specified.
The CAAT's move is intended to address heightened security concerns, particularly in response to escalating tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border. The new regulations aim to prevent drones from being used in ways that could instigate unrest, compromise safety, or impede the duties of officials in sensitive zones.
This reflects CAAT's strong stance on enforcing drone regulations amid security tensions, with clear legal consequences for breaches. However, it does not address other concerns such as data governance, global political issues, or potential impacts on local industries.
[1] Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand. (n.d.). Drone Ban in Thailand: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.caat.or.th/en/news/drone-ban-thailand-what-you-need-know
[2] Bangkok Post. (2021, May 17). CAAT to shoot down drones violating ban. Retrieved from https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2051589/caat-to-shoot-down-drones-violating-ban
[3] Reuters. (2021, May 17). Thailand bans drones near airports in border dispute with Cambodia. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-bans-drones-near-airports-border-dispute-cambodia-2021-05-17/
[4] The Nation. (2021, May 17). CAAT bans drones within 9km of airports, airfields. Retrieved from https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30411498
[5] The Phuket News. (2021, May 17). CAAT issues drone ban in sensitive border areas. Retrieved from https://www.thephuketnews.com/caat-issues-drone-ban-in-sensitive-border-areas-77754.php
- The CAAT's new regulations, following heightened security concerns, aim to prevent drones from being used in ways that could instigate unrest, compromise safety, or impede the duties of officials in sensitive zones, which includes political, general news, and war-and-conflicts scenarios.
- Violations of the drone flight ban in designated high-risk security zones, border provinces, and areas around airports, as stated by the Air Navigation Act, could lead to penalties such as imprisonment, fines, or both, possibly affecting local businesses.
