From zero
to your first flight.
A drone self-learning hub for everyone. No jargon โ first you'll understand how a drone flies, how to choose one, and how to fly it legally and safely, then we'll help you pass Taiwan's operator certificate.
โ ๏ธ The regulations here are compiled from the Taiwan Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) and are for learning only. Laws may change โ always follow the latest notices on the CAA remote-drone management system.
Suggested learning path
Principles, anatomy and types โ build the basics.
Pick a first drone that fits your budget and use.
Registration, licence and no-fly zones before take-off.
Stick handling, composition and safe landings.
What is a drone
A "drone" is an aircraft with no pilot on board, flown by remote control or by an automated program. Common names include Drone, UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and UAS (the whole system: airframe + controller + comms). Taiwan's legal term is "remote-controlled drone".
What can drones do?
The most common use โ weddings, travel, real estate, film.
Pesticide and fertiliser applied precisely, saving labour.
Bridges, pylons, solar panels and rooftops.
Orthophotos, terrain and 3D models.
Disaster survey, airdrops, remote delivery.
FPV racing and the pure joy of flying.
Three beginner myths
โ TruthOnce you fly outdoors, a max take-off weight of 250 g or more requires registration; and regardless of size, the flight rules (daytime, within sight, under 400 ft, away from no-fly zones) all apply.
โ TruthGPS can drop out, batteries die, signals get jammed. The pilot's judgement and pre-flight checks always matter more than automation.
โ TruthAirspace belongs to the state. The sky above your roof is still subject to the law and no-fly zones, and may affect neighbours' privacy.
Types & anatomy
Three main types by airframe
Quad/hexacopters are most common. They hover and are easy to learn โ the mainstream for beginners and photography. Shorter endurance.
Like a small plane, lifted by its wings. Flies far and long, but needs space to take off/land and cannot hover.
Single-rotor helis are hard to fly; VTOL hybrids combine hovering with long range, used for professional mapping.
What is an aerial drone made of?
| Part | Plain-English function |
|---|---|
| Flight Controller | The drone's "brain" โ fuses sensor data and decides how the four motors spin. |
| Motors + ESC | Motors are the "muscles" turning the props; the ESC is the "nerve" controlling motor speed. |
| Propellers | Cut the air to make lift; paired clockwise/counter-clockwise props balance the torque. |
| Battery (LiPo) | Lithium-polymer โ high energy density but sensitive to overcharge, over-discharge and impact. A key safety item. |
| GPS / IMU | GPS fixes horizontal position; the IMU (gyro + accelerometer) senses attitude to keep it stable. |
| Gimbal | A 3-axis mechanical stabiliser that cancels shake for cinematic footage. |
| Camera / video link | Captures images and streams a live view to the controller or phone. |
| Controller | The ground unit โ two sticks, antennas and a screen (or a phone mount). |
Taiwan's weight classes (important โ memorise these)
Note: the above is for "natural persons"; drones owned by government bodies, schools or legal entities must be registered regardless of weight.
How it flies
Take the common quadcopter: its four props spin in two opposite pairs (two clockwise, two counter-clockwise) so their torque cancels out and the body doesn't spin on its own. The flight controller fine-tunes all four motor speeds thousands of times per second to perform every move.
Four basic movements
All four motors speed up = climb; slow down together = descend.
Spin the clockwise pair faster and the nose rotates the other way, changing heading.
Rear two faster, front slower โ the body tilts forward and flies ahead; reverse to back up.
One side spins faster, the body banks, and it slides to the other side.
The controller: meet "Mode 2"
The most common layout for beginners worldwide is Mode 2:
- Left stick: up/down = throttle (altitude), left/right = yaw (turn in place).
- Right stick: up/down = pitch (forward/back), left/right = roll (slide sideways).
Tip: the left hand handles "altitude and heading", the right hand handles "horizontal movement". Most consumer drones default to Mode 2.
Buying guide
Your first drone needn't be expensive, but it should be "easy to fly, easy to fix, and compliant". Rough price tiers below in NT$ (reference only).
| Tier | Price (NT$, approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Toy / entry | 1,500 โ 5,000 | Pure stick practice, crash-friendly; usually under 250 g (no registration). |
| Entry aerial | 10,000 โ 25,000 | The beginner workhorse for good photos; often sub-249 g mini models. |
| Advanced aerial | 30,000 โ 70,000 | Better image quality, wind resistance and endurance; usually over 250 g (registration required). |
| Pro / commercial | 100,000+ | Spraying, mapping, inspection; usually 2 kg+ and needs an operator certificate. |
7 things beginners should check
- Weight class: under 249 g skips registration โ a top pick for many beginners.
- Flight time: the rated figure is optimistic; estimate about 70% in real use.
- Obstacle sensing: front/rear/down sensors greatly cut crash risk for newcomers.
- Video link range & stability: a stable signal matters more than headline distance.
- Wind resistance: a higher rating is reassuring at the coast or in the mountains.
- Spare-part availability: props and batteries are consumables โ easy parts save hassle.
- Bring 1โ2 extra batteries: a single pack rarely lasts 30 minutes.
Safe flying
Interactive pre-flight checklist
Tick each item before every flight to build muscle memory. Progress is saved in your browser only โ nothing is uploaded.
0 / 0 done
Lithium battery (LiPo) safety
- No over-charge / over-discharge: store long-term at about 50โ60%.
- Avoid impact and heat: swelling, deformation or puncture can ignite โ stop using it.
- Charge in a fireproof bag: don't leave it unattended; keep away from flammables.
- Air travel: carry LiPo batteries in the cabin, never checked; mind capacity limits.
Mindset while flying
Gusts eat your endurance and control margin; beginners keep below ~Force 4.
Don't fly until empty โ keep reserve for headwind and surprises.
Keep it in sight at all times; the screen is an aid, not a substitute.
Never fly over crowds, gatherings or traffic โ a fall can cause serious harm.
Taiwan regulations
Since 31 March 2020, Taiwan's Civil Aviation Act has included a dedicated "remote-controlled drone" chapter. It boils down to three things: register the drone, certify the pilot, follow the flight rules.
1. Register the drone
- A natural person must register a drone with a max take-off weight of 250 g or more flown in open outdoor space.
- Government bodies, schools and legal entities must register regardless of weight.
- About NT$50 per drone, valid 2 years, registrant must be 16+.
- The registration number must be marked on the airframe.
2. Certify the pilot (operator certificate)
To operate a drone of 2 kg or more, the pilot must hold the matching "operator certificate". There are three types:
| Certificate | How to get it | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Learning Certificate | Age 16+, issued on application, no exam. | Must fly under supervision of a General/Professional holder; up to under 25 kg. |
| General Certificate | Age 18+, pass the written exam. | 2 โ 15 kg โ the mainstay for recreation and commercial aerial work. |
| Professional Certificate | Age 18+, medical check + written + practical, graded by aircraft type (multirotor / fixed-wing / helicopter, etc.) and level (G1โG3). | 15 kg+, night flight, beyond-line-of-sight, payload drops and other advanced ops (most need separate approval). |
Both registration and certification are handled via the CAA remote-drone management system; the written exam can be taken online.
3. Follow the flight rules
No flying from sunset to sunrise (per the weather bureau's times).
No higher than 400 ft (about 120 m) above ground or water.
Keep visual contact; no tools to extend flight distance.
Airport surrounds, military and government-declared areas are off-limits.
No flying above gatherings or outdoor assemblies.
Don't drop or spray objects; don't carry hazardous materials.
You may not control 2 or more drones simultaneously.
Stay 30 m+ from highways, railways and buildings.
4. Where can you fly legally?
Municipal and county governments may designate "remote-drone activity areas" โ government-approved, relatively simple legal flying sites. Always check the airspace tier first with the official system:
- Green zone: flyable, altitude up to 120 m.
- Yellow zone: conditional, usually a lower ceiling (e.g. 60 m).
- Red zone: no-fly, completely off-limits.
- CAA remote-drone management system (registration, licensing, airspace)
- Civil Aviation Administration website
- Mobile app: DroneGo (iOS / Android โ check airspace before you go)
Do I need to register / get a licence?
Pick your identity and drone weight to see your obligations instantly. (For learning only โ defer to official CAA notices.)
Basic operation
Once you're legal and checks are done, practise your stick skills โ in an open, empty, obstacle-free legal site, building up step by step.
- Power-up order: controller on first, then the drone; wait for GPS lock (lights usually turn green or it says "ready").
- Take off & hover: ease up to about 1.5 m and hold a steady hover for 30 seconds, feeling the corrections in light wind.
- Vertical moves: stay in one horizontal spot and move only up/down to learn throttle response.
- Sideways & fore/aft: at low speed and small inputs, fly a small square with the right stick.
- Yaw and align: turn with the left stick and keep flying smoothly while facing different directions.
- Nose-in flying: when the nose points at you, left/right are reversed โ the classic crash trap; practise slowly.
- Safe landing: line up over the take-off point, descend to ~30 cm, then cut throttle โ or use auto return-to-home.
Aerial photography
Four shots that instantly look good
Shoot straight down at 90ยฐ to turn fields, pools and traffic into flat patterns.
Circle around a subject for scale and a cinematic feel.
Rise from low over a foreground to suddenly unveil a vast backdrop.
Use roads, coastlines or rivers to guide the eye to the subject.
Basic settings
- Keep ISO low: ISO 100 in daylight gives the cleanest image.
- Use an ND filter: for video, keep shutter at "twice the frame rate" (e.g. 1/60 s at 30 fps) for natural motion.
- Shoot RAW / D-Log: more room for grading, but bigger files that need colour work.
- Avoid harsh midday sun: the golden hours at dawn and dusk look best.
Advanced & careers
Once your fundamentals are solid and you want to turn drones into work, these are the directions to go deeper (most need a Professional Certificate and case approval).
Spraying services โ needs a Professional Certificate and chemical know-how.
Orthophotos, volume calculations, 3D models for engineering and land use.
High-altitude checks of bridges, grids, turbines and solar panels.
Professional pilots for ads, films and live event coverage.
Trials for remote, island and medical-supply drone transport.
Fire-and-rescue search, police recon and disaster survey.
Quiz
Six quick questions to check the key ideas โ read the earlier chapters first, then take it on!
FAQ & glossary
Frequently asked questions
I bought a 249 g mini drone โ really nothing to do?
You can skip "registration", but all flight rules still apply: daytime, within sight, under 400 ft, away from no-fly zones and crowds. No registration โ no rules.
Is the written exam hard? How do I prepare?
The General Certificate is a written test; the question bank is published by the CAA and covers law, weather, flight principles and safety. Study the bank and do mock tests โ most people pass first time.
What should I watch for at the coast or in the mountains?
Check it's not a no-fly zone with DroneGo first; mind gusts, salt and cold affecting the battery; keep line of sight and reserve more battery for the return.
Can I take a drone on a plane?
The airframe can be checked or carried on, but lithium batteries must be carried in the cabin, never checked, and have capacity (Wh) limits โ check the airline before flying.
Is filming other people's homes or passers-by a problem?
It can involve privacy and personal data. Avoid lingering over specific homes or identifiable individuals, and mind portrait rights and privacy before publishing.