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Member Guidelines and Code of Conduct

This Code is intended to provide both recreational and professional members with a set of guidelines and recommendations for safe, non-intrusive RPAS operations. These guidelines are a work in progress and we welcome your feedback on how to improve them going forward.

Adherence to this code will contribute will greatly benefit public confidence in the Hong Kong drone community and drone activities as a whole.

The code is built on three specific themes:  Safety, Professionalism and Respect. Each theme and its associated recommendations represent a ‘common sense’ approach to drone operations and is designed to address many of the concerns expressed by the public and regulators.  

This code also provides users from all levels a convenient checklist for operations and a means to demonstrate their obligation to supporting the growth of our industry in a safe and responsible manner.

Safety Guidelines 

  • Not operate a drone / RPAS in a manner that presents undue risk to persons or property on the ground or in the air.
  • Ensure the drone or RPAS is piloted by individuals who are properly trained and/or competent to operate the aircraft or its systems.
  • Ensure drone flights are conducted only after a thorough assessment of risks associated with the activity. This risk assessment will include, but is not limited to:
    • Weather conditions relative to the performance capability of the system.
    • Identification of normally anticipated failure modes (lost link, power plant failures, loss of control, etc) and consequences of the failures.
    • Operator and crew fitness for flight operations.
    • Overlying airspace, compliance with aviation regulations in Hong Kong as appropriate to the operation and off-nominal procedures.
    • Communication, command, control and payload frequency spectrum requirements.
    • Checking for the reliability, performance and airworthiness of the drone / RPAS, and where relevant, ensuing it meets established standards.
  • Follow the current UAS guidelines as laid down by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) on their website: English / Chinese.

Code of Professionalism and Respect

  • Perform drone / RPAS activities legally, ethically, professionally and where applicable, within the relevant permissions governing the airspace in which the member is flying.
  • Promote and further the development of the community, the sport, or the industry as well as the HKDSA.
  • Report incidents or infractions to the police, CAD or a relevant industry body in order to help the industry grow in the right direction.
  • Comply with all Hong Kong laws, covenants and restrictions that relate to the use of drones and RPAS operations, both recreationally and professionally.
  • Comply with the laws, covenants and restrictions applicable to drones and RPAS operations when operating on other countries or jurisdictions outside Hong Kong
  • To behave ethically at all times and operate as a responsible member of the wider aviation community.
  • To be responsive to the needs of the public.
  • To respect the rights of other users of airspace.
  • To respect the privacy of individuals.
  • To respect the concerns of the public as they relate to unmanned aircraft operations.
  • To support improving public awareness and education on the operation of drones and RPAS.

If you are a drone sports pilot:

Please read the following selection & appeal mechanism documentation and apply as one of our drone sports member.

Selection Mechanism for drone sports pilot:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sCf1DNDaMat2dBS83JDJr0oZbOpO-VDH/view?usp=drive_link

Appeal Mechanism for drone sports pilot:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nSmOmrgm5vhFtx2U4pcRewDmLcco61tS/view?usp=drive_link

As a community, it is incumbent upon us to hold ourselves and each other to high professional and ethical standards. As with any new and revolutionary technology, there will be mishaps and abuses. 

However, in order to gain public acceptance and trust, we should operate safely and in accordance with these guiding themes, and do so in an open and transparent manner.