Press Releases
Increased Maximum Penalties under the Amendments to the Air Navigation Act
7 October 2019
1. The Air Navigation (Amendment) Bill 2019, introduced in Parliament earlier today to amend the Air Navigation Act, includes provisions to deter the errant use of Unmanned Aircraft (UA), commonly known as drones, by increasing the maximum penalties of offences in the Act involving UA, commensurate with the potential endangerment and widespread disruption caused by the errant use of UA.
2. Table 1 below outlines the current and increased maximum penalties for UA offences. Please refer to the Explanatory Statement at the end of the Air Navigation (Amendment) Bill 2019 for more details about the Bill.
Table 1: List of Increased Maximum Penalties
S/N | Offence | Current Maximum Penalty | New Maximum Penalty |
1 | Operating any aircraft (including UA) without the necessary aviation safety instruments (such as the UA operator or activity permit)1 | First offence: fine not exceeding $50,000 Repeat offender: fine not exceeding $100,000 | First offence: fine not exceeding $50,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years |
2 | Unauthorised photography of a protected area Unauthorised overflight of a protected area | Fine not exceeding $20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months | First offence: fine not exceeding $50,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years Repeat offender: fine not exceeding $100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 5 years |
3 | Discharging anything (whether gaseous, liquid or solid) without a permit when operating an UA | Fine not exceeding $20,000 | |
4 | Any act (e.g. operating, maintaining or servicing) in respect of any aircraft (including UA), in a way that the offender knows or ought reasonably to know could endanger the life or property of another person | Fine not exceeding $100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 5 years | An enhanced penalty of a fine not exceeding $100,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 10 years instead, if the offence is committed involving a UA and knowing or reckless as to whether the life or property of another person is endangered |
5 | Not complying with directions from an authorised person2 to end the flight of the UA, land it safely, or fly in a specified manner (s 29G ANA) | Fine not exceeding $20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months | Fine not exceeding $20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years |
1 The maximum penalty for this offence is currently meted out under the Air Navigation Order (ANO) which has a maximum penalty for a first offence: a fine not exceeding $20,000 and for a repeated offender: a fine not exceeding $40,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 15 months
2 An authorised person is a police officer with rank of sergeant and above authorised by the Commissioner of Police; member of the Singapore Armed Forces authorised by the Chief of Defence Force; or individual authorised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore