Survey of drone usage in Thailand
1. Source of the data
Time period of the survey
Survey period: August 15, 2025 – Present
3. Who was sampled
Target Group:
Agricultural drone users
Survey drone users
Photography drone users
4. Number of survey respondents
6xx people (based on the data)
5. Suggestions
The details of the suggestions from the survey respondents and the association can be studied from the infographic below.
Voices from the field
Analysis of the impact of drone regulations that are not aligned with reality.
🚨 The biggest issue: Regulations that do not align with real-world operations 🚨
Feedback from users clearly indicates that the most severe problem is the design of regulations that lack an understanding of the nature of agricultural work, which requires speed and flexibility. This makes the enforced regulations a direct obstacle to professional practice.
👥 Who is affected? 👥
💥 Impact caused 💥
Agricultural produce damaged
75%
Loss of income/job opportunities
65%
Debt burden from equipment
40%
The estimated value of damage from delays in operations and pest outbreaks could reach tens of millions of baht throughout the period of enforcement.
📢 Top 10 most frequently mentioned complaints 🏆
🎤 In-depth analysis of key issues from users 🎤
These are the real voices from those directly affected, highlighting the distress across various aspects.
🌾 Regulations do not align with agricultural work 🚜
"We should categorize drone usage... agricultural drones are different from photography drones... the approval time does not align with reality..."
"Agricultural drones don't have planned routes like photography drones, where you can have time to apply for permits in advance and wait for approval. Agricultural drones need to fly every day. If you apply today and get approval tomorrow, it's already too late."
"Sir, agricultural work... there are sudden tasks, and work changes all the time... pests and worms won't tell you, 'I'll come eat your crops in 10 days.'"
"If we're required to apply for permission 3 days in advance, and then it rains on the scheduled flight day, what are we supposed to do?"
"I still don't understand the meaning of agricultural drones. Have you even read the suggestions? When pests and insects come, waiting for 3 days means the entire field is ruined by the time it's approved."
"Agricultural drones aren't just flying for fun. They're used for work to earn a living."
"Flying agricultural drones isn't something we do every day. We fly only when there's work, and asking for permission 3 days in advance is impossible."
"Working with agricultural drones is a race against time."
"By the time permission is granted, the crops are already damaged."
"Agricultural drones need to be ready to fly at all times."
"Please separate it, agriculture and tourism are different."
"Those who make the rules have never worked in agriculture."
"Requesting permission 3 days in advance is too late to be useful."
"By the time it's approved, the pests have already eaten everything."
"Agricultural drones don't fly high. They fly only at 3-5 meters."
"There should be specific regulations for agricultural drones."
"The operation of agricultural drones needs to be flexible."
"If it rains, we can't fly. How can we request permission in advance?"
"Agricultural drones fly in restricted areas, not everywhere."
"Please have some understanding. We are really struggling."
⏳ The inefficiency of the system 🐌
"Notify 3 days in advance... today is August 15th, and there's still no system notification. When I check, I can't find where to notify."
"I've been asking for 5-6 days, and what are you going to do? Meanwhile, photography drones get approved within 5 minutes."
"It’s been over 10 days, and even though more than 25 registrations have been submitted, none have been approved yet."
"In the UAS app, the request button is not working. When will there be an update?"
"Requesting permission no less than 3 days in advance is the rule. Have you implemented a system to support this yet?"
"The system is always down."
"The app is very difficult to use."
"I call, but no one answers."
"The information in the app doesn't match the announcement."
"Waited for approval until I forgot about it."
"There is no clarity in the approval process."
"The system should be better than this."
"Wasting time that could be spent earning a living."
"The system should be urgently improved."
"Are you even working?"
"Thai bureaucracy"
"There are no notifications at all."
"I have to keep checking myself all the time."
"Really disappointing."
"There should be staff available to answer questions."
💸 Economic impact 📉
"If we notify 3 days in advance, and the farmer soaks the rice waiting to be sowed, but the approval is either not granted or delayed, the soaked rice will spoil."
"All the agricultural crops will be ruined like this. Labor for pesticide spraying is also hard to find. If the drone can’t fly to spray, everything will be destroyed."
"So we don't need to make a living anymore, right? The delay is for months, and the daily expenses are accumulating."
"Phichit will run out of rice to eat soon. I love my country, but please consider this."
"The main problem is the war, which is causing hardship for the entire country... the whole region will collapse."
"I've been without income for several days now."
"Debt is waiting."
"What are we going to eat?"
"Everyone is suffering."
"My business is going to collapse."
"I don't have money to pay the installment."
"The economy is already bad enough."
"Have some empathy, please."
"The impact is cascading down."
"Expenses remain the same, but there is no income."
"We're all going to perish."
"There are no relief measures."
"So, what are we supposed to do?"
"Think about the people's livelihoods."
"It's very difficult."
❓ Poor communication 🗣️
"Why isn't there a clear announcement? Come and comment again. Some people might not understand the nationwide lockdown easing announcement, but the conditions in certain areas remain the same."
"Please explain the legal language in simple terms. Regular people don't understand it."
"What do orange and yellow mean?"
"VT D34, how can we know which areas are allowed to fly or not, since the red frame overlaps..."
"The map in your app doesn't match the official announcement. How can we be sure which areas are allowed or not allowed for flying?"
"The announcement is unclear."
"The information is confusing."
"No one can provide an answer."
"So, can we fly or not?"
"There should be a clear channel for inquiries."
"Using terminology that's hard to understand."
"The public is confused."
"There should be an infographic that is easy to understand."
"There is no prior publicity."
"We have to interpret it ourselves."
"The information from each source doesn't match."
"There should be clear examples."
"One-way communication"
"Not listening to opinions"
"There should be a Q&A"
⚖️ "Feeling of unfairness" 😠
"It would probably be better not to ask for permission at all and just fly it because anyway, it can't be caught."
"Just to show that they're working, even though it’s totally pointless. When I bought it, I registered everything. Those who don’t register, flying around without consequences, can’t do anything about it."
"Agri-drones fly low... not approved, but drones for photography flying higher... get approved way too quickly!!!"
"Why is the photography drone immediately approved to fly in the red zone, while the agri-drone, which flies only in the farm, has such a hard time getting approval?"
"Did the Cambodians ask for permission to fly, or are they just flying around? And what can be done if they didn’t ask for permission?"
"Double standards"
"Law-abiding people are suffering."
"Those who break the law are comfortable."
"Discrimination"
"Unfair"
"Then why register at all?"
Law enforcement is not comprehensive.
"There are illegal drones everywhere."
"Why do photography drones get special privileges?"
"I don't see anyone catching them."
"The law is for the poor."
"Boring"
"Lost faith"
"Doing good doesn't bring rewards."
"Then how can we cooperate?"
💔 "A reflection of despair: Debt and the burden of making ends meet" 😥
"So we don't need to make a living anymore, right? The delay is for months, and the daily expenses are accumulating."
"People are suffering all over the country. There’s the cost of the house, car, drone installments, children's tuition fees. Stopping flying means losing income."
"What will poor people like us eat, sir?"
"I feel sorry for the farmers and drone operators. Their tools for making a living have become nothing more than paperweights."
"Some people just bought a new drone less than a month ago and now have to face this. Not to mention the installment payments and family expenses."
"We're all going to starve."
"Hopeless"
"Completely lost"
"Then who will take responsibility?"
"Life must go on, but there's no way forward."
"I'm really stressed."
"I can't sleep at all."
"Feels like being abandoned."
"No way out."
"Why do we have to go through something like this?"
"Tears are about to fall."
"I feel sorry for the family."
"I wish the authorities would come down and take a look."
"We are not terrorists."
"We just want to make a living."
💡 "The Path to a Solution: Learning from Global Models" 🌍
"Leading global regulatory bodies have developed frameworks that strike a balance between security and innovation, which could serve as a model for addressing Thailand's challenges."
Thailand's issues
The approval system is slow and burdensome.
➔
Solution: Transition to an automated approval system.
- 🇺🇸 United States (FAA): Uses the system LAANC Almost instantly approves flights in controlled airspace through an application.
- 🇨🇳 China (CAAC): Uses the cloud platform U-Cloud For submitting flight plans and real-time tracking.
- 🇪🇺 European Union (EASA): Developed U-Space A set of digital services to manage airspace efficiently.
Thailand's issues
One rule for everyone
➔
Solution: Categorize rules based on risk and type of work
- 🇪🇺 European Union (EASA): Uses PDRA Creates a fast track for standard missions, such as agricultural work.
- 🇨🇳 China (CAAC): Has Special rules and simplified procedures For agricultural drones flying in rural areas.
- 🇦🇺 Australia (CASA): Has Exemptions Allows farmers to fly on their own land without needing a full license.
Thailand's issues
Confusing communication
➔
Solution: Use interactive digital maps
- 🇪🇺 European Union (EASA): Defines Geo-Zones As a clear standard for digital mapping.
- 🇺🇸 United States (FAA): Provides the app B4UFLY That displays real-time airspace information and restrictions.
- 🇨🇳 China (CAAC): System U-Cloud Has a Geo-fencing system that automatically alerts users when they approach no-fly zones.
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