Let me start with a spoiler alert to my sensationalistic headline: I got my passport back. I also got official approval to fly anywhere in Luang Prabang for 4 days. Do NOT try this at home.
Flew three destinations this morning in Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic. I was with my friend, Mr. S, a hotel group CEO in the hospitality industry in Laos. The third flight was at a temple called Wat Pa Pon Phao. There was a policeman on duty when we pulled up. Mr. S engaged him in a conversation about the drone as I set up to launch. During the flight, I shared my FPV with the policeman, then downloaded it onto my Mac to watch it again.
The policeman then said it was not ok to fly a drone and directed us to the Ministry of Tourism who directed us to the Tourism police. They decided I needed to get approval to make those flights, and would hold my passport and SD Card until I had it.
I didn't understand a word of the many conversations Mr S had with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Tourism Police of Luang Prabang. Mr. S has some friends in high places, and he made calls to the Lieutenant Governor and the Head of Tourism Police. It also helped that the Minister of Culture and Information is from his hometown and they knew each other.
Three hours later, I had my passport and SD card back, along with official approval from the MoT and the Tourism Police. I can fly my Phantom anywhere around Luang Prabang for the next 4 days. The Ministry of Tourism retains the right to use my footage on their website promoting Luang Prabang. (I'm actually in progress negotiating an almost identical deal with an Asian country that doesn't allow drones.)
With the exception of the first policeman at the pagoda, every one treated us professionally. The MoT served us coffee and tea.
Side notes:
Flew three destinations this morning in Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic. I was with my friend, Mr. S, a hotel group CEO in the hospitality industry in Laos. The third flight was at a temple called Wat Pa Pon Phao. There was a policeman on duty when we pulled up. Mr. S engaged him in a conversation about the drone as I set up to launch. During the flight, I shared my FPV with the policeman, then downloaded it onto my Mac to watch it again.
The policeman then said it was not ok to fly a drone and directed us to the Ministry of Tourism who directed us to the Tourism police. They decided I needed to get approval to make those flights, and would hold my passport and SD Card until I had it.
I didn't understand a word of the many conversations Mr S had with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Tourism Police of Luang Prabang. Mr. S has some friends in high places, and he made calls to the Lieutenant Governor and the Head of Tourism Police. It also helped that the Minister of Culture and Information is from his hometown and they knew each other.
Three hours later, I had my passport and SD card back, along with official approval from the MoT and the Tourism Police. I can fly my Phantom anywhere around Luang Prabang for the next 4 days. The Ministry of Tourism retains the right to use my footage on their website promoting Luang Prabang. (I'm actually in progress negotiating an almost identical deal with an Asian country that doesn't allow drones.)
With the exception of the first policeman at the pagoda, every one treated us professionally. The MoT served us coffee and tea.
Side notes:
- Just before launch, an SUV pulled up with 4 Americans and a tourguide. I offered to delay my flight if they wanted to enjoy the temple first. The wife laughed and rolled her eyes. "Go ahead, he has one, too," she said gesturing towards her husband.
- The husband told me he had an Inspire 1. He came over later and talked to me for a few minutes. He was a bit jealous about the portability of my P2V+.
- It seemed official permission for drone photography had not been granted before. I'm probably the first in Laos.
- One draft of the approval had to be amended because "drone camera" was too vague. The police wanted it replaced by "DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus aerial camera" in order to be more specific.