South America
Ecuador
DGAC Ecuador — RDAC 101 (RPAS)
Ecuador regulates drones under DGAC's RDAC 101 rule. Recreational flying (open category, drones under 4 kg) doesn't require a pilot certificate, but registering a drone ≥250 g requires being an Ecuadorian citizen or a foreign resident: a short-stay visitor cannot register one in their own name. Under 250 g no registration is needed, so most compact tourist drones can fly without this constraint.
Limit of 400 feet (122 m AGL) for both open and specific categories. Near structures taller than the limit, flying is allowed within a 50 m radius of the structure up to 15 m above its top.
Mandatory through the DGAC's online portal for drones ≥250 g, but the system is only open to Ecuadorian citizens, foreign residents in Ecuador, or legal entities incorporated under Ecuadorian law: there is no registration path for short-stay tourists. Under 250 g no registration is required.
No pilot certificate required for the open category; minimum age 14 (with adult supervision if a minor). An operator certificate/licence is only needed for the specific category (commercial use).
Not required for recreational drones under 4 kg in the open category; mandatory for commercial use with minimum amounts tiered by weight.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Always within visual line of sight (VLOS): beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flight is forbidden in the open category. Forbidden within a 600 m-wide rectangle along the runway plus 3 km from each runway threshold at controlled airports (up to 5 km in approach/departure cones); outside those zones, within 5 km of a controlled airport flight is only possible with coordination and a maximum altitude of 40 m. Forbidden within 1.8 km of uncontrolled airstrips and 0.9 km of heliports, unless authorized. Also forbidden near hospitals, military/police bases, strategic infrastructure, institutional buildings (Presidency, National Assembly), prisons, crowded public events and active emergency zones.
What isn't 100% confirmed yet
Data verified against the full text of the RDAC 101 rule, approved by Resolución DGAC-DGAC-2024-0100-R (11 December 2024) and in force since 5 May 2025. The official DGAC Ecuador site was unreachable in the latest check: data not re-confirmed by a direct source in this pass.
Verify officially before flying
Source: DGAC — Dirección General de Aviación Civil, Ecuador (Ecuador's Civil Aviation Authority)
Last checked: 2026-09
Go deeper
Why registration exists
Operator registration exists for accountability: if a drone causes an incident or enters a restricted zone, the authority needs to be able to trace it back to whoever was flying it. You usually get an identification number (operator ID) to physically attach to the drone, valid for every drone the same person owns. The cost is often minimal or free, and it applies to visiting tourists too, not just residents. For Ecuador, the official reference remains DGAC — Dirección General de Aviación Civil, Ecuador (Ecuador's Civil Aviation Authority). Mandatory through the DGAC's online portal for drones ≥250 g, but the system is only open to Ecuadorian citizens, foreign residents in Ecuador, or legal entities incorporated under Ecuadorian law: there is no registration path for short-stay tourists. Under 250 g no registration is required.
How this usually works
Even where an exam isn't formally required, most aviation authorities still recommend a basic safety course: rules change often, and flying without the basics is a real risk even without a legal obligation. The exam and certificate are handled by DGAC — Dirección General de Aviación Civil, Ecuador (Ecuador's Civil Aviation Authority). No pilot certificate required for the open category; minimum age 14 (with adult supervision if a minor). An operator certificate/licence is only needed for the specific category (commercial use).
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.