South America
El Salvador
AAC — RAC-RPAS (2017)
The Autoridad de Aviación Civil (AAC) has regulated drones since 2017. No pilot licence is needed for recreational use, but an Operator Certificate is mandatory for private/commercial non-recreational use.
Maximum allowed speed 70 km/h.
Equipment registration required with the AAC.
Not required for recreational use; mandatory (Operator Certificate) for private/commercial use.
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Forbidden at night; within 6 km of international airports, 2 km from private runways, 250 m from heliports; forbidden over military installations, prisons, courts, embassies, borders, private property without permission, and gatherings.
Verify officially before flying
Source: Autoridad de Aviación Civil (AAC) de El Salvador (Civil Aviation Authority of El Salvador)
Last checked: 2026-09
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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 El Salvador, the official reference remains Autoridad de Aviación Civil (AAC) de El Salvador (Civil Aviation Authority of El Salvador). Equipment registration required with the AAC.
How this usually works
Here the requirement depends on factors like the drone's weight, distance from people, or use case (recreational vs. commercial). The note above describes the most common case: if your situation is different, check the official source to see exactly which scenario applies to you before flying. The exam and certificate are handled by Autoridad de Aviación Civil (AAC) de El Salvador (Civil Aviation Authority of El Salvador). Not required for recreational use; mandatory (Operator Certificate) for private/commercial use.
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.