Drones in Central Asia - rules Q&A

[captbeardsomme]

Hi

I will be driving through Uzbekistan this summer, and during our trip I would love to shoot some footage with my drone.

I understand and respect that drones are illegal in Uzbekistan, and don't intend to use it there. but on the other hand, I do want it with me for the rest of the trip.

So... what If I make a nice hidden compartment in my car and leave it there during the whole Uzbek experience?
How thorough are they checking the car when entering the country?
What would be the consequences if they find it?

Optionally, is there a reliable way of shipping something as a drone from Turkmenistan to Tajikistan in about 3-4 days?

[seysearles]

Hi

I will be driving through Uzbekistan this summer, and during our trip I would love to shoot some footage with my drone.

I understand and respect that drones are illegal in Uzbekistan, and don't intend to use it there. but on the other hand, I do want it with me for the rest of the trip.

So... what If I make a nice hidden compartment in my car and leave it there during the whole Uzbek experience?
How thorough are they checking the car when entering the country?
What would be the consequences if they find it?

Optionally, is there a reliable way of shipping something as a drone from Turkmenistan to Tajikistan in about 3-4 days?

We took ours all through Central Asia including Uzbekistan. Never got checked or in any trouble. Although that didn't stop me from dumping it into the ground on the Pamir Highway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qoYMj-xH68

[seysearles]

https://youtu.be/DcNMJtcZ1QI

[captbeardsomme]

Thanks all

I will probably just go with the flow then, beeing a stupid foreigner and all

[steven]

Although drones, I think, are still widely used to photograph weddings, and seysearles above had no issue bringing one in, it should be noted, unauthorised use of drones is illegal in Tajikistan.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/206453

[lolipop]

Hello everyone...

I will be driving through central Asia, and during my trip I would to shoot some footage with drone. So I have a question....had someone trouble with transferring the drones between central Asia countries?

Thaks for answer.

[silkroadski]

Yes.

In short at the Turkmen-Uzbek crossing at Farap they forced us to destroy our drone (they'd not even let the drone into the country once destroyed to help with insurance). We tried for several hours to come up with a solution - posting, sealing in a box and police courier to the border, travellers passing into Turkmenistan (probably the best option but there were none going that way), telling them we took it through all of the others and didn't fly it once, etc. etc.

There was absolutely no compromise. It doesn't matter what suggestion you come up with, what you've read, what the law (or as we perceived it) says. It is 100% illegal to take any kind of drone into the country.

Hide it very well in your old underwear stashed somewhere in the car that will be a pain in the backside for them to check and play ignorance if found.

[steven]

Yes.

In short at the Turkmen-Uzbek crossing at Farap they forced us to destroy our drone

I assume this was the Turkmens. Or was it the Uzbeks?

[silkroadski]

The Uzbeks. Though I’ve since heard they’ve relaxed the rule. I suspect it was just the grumpy boss on the day - the other officers would’ve eventually given in.

[AdamL]

I will enter UZB hopefully tomorrow from Beyneu KAZ. For last few days make no loundry to have nice hidden place for DJI Mavic. Cross you fingers people, if they force me to crash it I will cry like a baby