REGULATIONS / CL
Chile: drone rules for inspection
Chile regulates drones through DGAC standards DAN 151 (RPAS operations over populated areas) and DAN 91. A new DAN 151 was approved in May 2024 (published March 2025) and, per the DGAC, adds risk matrices and a special category for night and urban flights. Commercial aerial work needs the DAN 151 operator credential and a DAN 119 air operator certificate, with registered aircraft and an aerodrome-zone inhibition system. DGAC material says overflight of critical state infrastructure has been prohibited since 2018 and that BVLOS has been possible since 2020 under limits (5 km, 1,200 ft). The new DAN 151 text was not read, so its details are unverified.
Checked against official sources
Fields are recorded in the language of the research notes.
| Authority | チリ民間航空総局 (DGAC Chile) / Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), Chile |
| Main framework | DAN 151, 'Operaciones de aeronaves pilotadas a distancia (RPAS) sobre áreas pobladas'. A new version was approved by Resolución exenta Núm. 04/3/0089/1033 of 27 May 2024, published 11 March 2025 per vLex, replacing the 2015 edition. DAN 91 covers general operating rules, including RPAS. RPAS aerial-work companies need an AOC under DAN 119; a 2021 amendment added RPA requirements. DAN 137 (aerial work, amended 2023, published March 2025) requires RPAS operators to hold the DAN 151 operator credential. The text of the 2024 DAN 151 itself was not read (vLex excerpt only), so its details are (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22) |
| Registration | RPA used by AOC holders for aerial work must be registered with the DGAC and listed by serial or DGAC registration number (DAN 119 amendment, 2021). According to the DGAC's account of the history (CLAC presentation), registration, a pilot credential and DGAC authorisation were added to DAN 151 after 2015. The current DAN 151 registration threshold was not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22) |
| Remote ID | No Remote ID mandate was found. Under DAN 119, RPA of AOC holders must have an on-board inhibition system that keeps them out of aerodrome zones (a geofencing-type requirement). |
| Pilot licensing | RPAS operators need the DGAC RPAS operator credential under DAN 151 (cited in the DAN 137 amendment), and RPAS instructors need a remote pilot credential. According to the DGAC presentation, the 2024 framework sets a 36-month renewal cycle for the pilot credential and a 6-month cycle for operational authorisation (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22). Amendments to DAN 61 published July 2025 bring in ICAO-style RPAS, C2-link and remote-pilot flight-time definitions from 26 November 2026. |
| Risk categories | According to the DGAC presentation, the original DAN 151 (2015) capped MTOW at 6 kg (later raised to 9 kg) and required parachutes and propeller guards. The 2024 version adds risk matrices, geospatial planning and a special category for night and urban flights. There is no EU-style Open/Specific scheme. The current weight limits were not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22) |
| BVLOS | According to the DGAC presentation, BVLOS was enabled in 2020 with a maximum range of 5 km, a maximum altitude of 1,200 ft and precision-telemetry requirements. The current conditions under the 2024 DAN 151 were not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22) |
| Night & over people | DAN 151 covers operations over populated areas, defined as urban centres, residential or work settlements, and outdoor gatherings. The 2024 version reportedly adds a special category for night and urban flights (DGAC presentation; (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22)). |
| Near structures | According to the DGAC presentation, overflight of critical state infrastructure has been prohibited since 2018, with exceptions possible through NOTAM. DAN 119 requires an aerodrome-zone inhibition system. Specific distances were not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22) |
| Indoor & confined | (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22) |
| Imaging & privacy | Chile's personal data law (Ley 19.628, reformed by Ley 21.719 in 2024) may apply (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22) |
| Recent changes | DAN 151 new version: approved 27 May 2024 (Res. exenta 1033), published 11 March 2025 per vLex. DAN 137 amendment (dated 4 July 2023, published 5 March 2025) ties RPAS aerial work to the DAN 151 credential. DAN 61 amendment (7 July 2025, published 22 July 2025) adds RPAS definitions from 26 November 2026. The earlier entry's reference to 'DAN 151/91' still holds, but DAN 151 now has a 2024 version. |
Sources
- Resolución exenta Núm. 04/3/0108/1251 – modifica DAN 137 'Trabajos Aéreos' (Diario Oficial, 5 March 2025)Full text read
- Resolución exenta Núm. 04/3/0016/0157 – enmienda DAN 119 (RPA en trabajos aéreos) (Diario Oficial, 5 March 2021)Full text read
- Resolución exenta Núm. 04/3/0097/1381 – enmienda DAN 61 (Diario Oficial, 22 July 2025)Full text read
- Resolución Núm. 1033 exenta – aprueba DAN 151 (excerpt)Abstract read
- GE61 Pr02 – RPAS regulatory evolution (CLAC working group presentation, 2026)Full text read
Sources checked: 2026-10-22