Maximum drone altitude limit!Seeing Singapore from 500 meters above

Text by Alex

In Singapore, civilian drone regulations allow a maximum flying height of 60 meters. Singaporean photographer Klaus Tan (also known as CHUTTERSNAP) applied for a special permit in advance to capture the island nation’s outstanding urban planning and magnificent architecture from an uncommon angle — at the maximum allowed altitude of 500 meters — using a drone.

In the documents submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), he had to clearly explain his aerial photography plan and content to the authorities, including the flight route and contingency plans for various failures and emergencies. In addition, applicants are required to provide a map detailing the points of interest, take-off and landing areas, and flight boundaries for the shoot. The authorities then provide feedback on the plan to help optimize the shooting strategy and enhance flight safety.

Obtaining a permit costs $45 (about HK$350) and requires several days of waiting, but in Singapore, this method is still much cheaper than renting a helicopter. Tan said, “In New York, renting a helicopter costs $300 per hour (about HK$2,344), but in Singapore it costs $6,000 (about HK$46,874).”

In Singapore’s densely built urban environment, the biggest challenge of aerial photography is severe communication interference. He has to keep the drone within visual range at all times while avoiding obstacles, and sometimes GPS or remote control signals can also be disrupted. Regardless of the issues, he has to find the best camera angles within the limited flight time — truly a test of multitasking.

In the end, it took Tan seven months of planning and 27 kilometers of walking to capture “the skyline you see every time you look out the airplane window when landing at Changi Airport.” Tan said this series of works stirred up endless longing for friends, family, and local food, and also made Singaporeans proud.

High-resolution versions of these photos can be found in this Flickr online album. Photography enthusiasts can also check out his other works on his personal website, Facebook, and Instagram page.

Source: PetaPixel