Vansh TiwariI was eager to fly my DJI Mavic Air 2 drone in Kuala Lumpur when planning.
Precisely, I have watched the YouTube videos. I could see the smooth movement of drones to showcase the gorgeous city. On the other hand, I have read online articles that remain filled with mixed responses to use or not to use the drone in Kuala Lumpur.
Ultimately, I have to test and see.
Table of Contents
Kuala Lumpur
The first 2 days in Kuala Lumpur were marvellous. However, I didn’t get a chance to fly my drone because we had scheduled multiple places to visit well before.
On the 3rd day, we visited Genting Skyworld Theme Park and returned on the 4th day afternoon.
On the 4th day evening, I decided to lock the slot to take off my drone.
The day to fly my drone in Kuala Lumpur
After exploring all day, everybody was tired.
But I had decided to fly my drone. Therefore, I picked up my bag and left to scout the location.
I was sure I wasn’t going far away. Though we were staying in Chinatown, it has busy streets, and local markets were nearby.
After roaming for some time, I came across a lane that seemed like a dumping backward. Also, the other end was a wall. Hence, it was a one-way route. Furthermore, I didn’t feel anybody would be coming there even for walking.
Though, that was the perfect area for me to take-off my drone.
I was indeed ready.
Quickly, I set up my drone, inserted the wings, and checked the settings. I was entirely ready for the take-off.
Take-off
I have to take a few shots that I had already planned. I took my drone slightly above the building, the connection started losing.
Though, I thought it would be a glitch. Indeed, the connection came, and I moved my drone a little ahead. Ditto, the problem.
I continued to move my drone somehow as and when the connection came.
At once, I brought down my drone to change the battery. However, I wondered what was happening. I got 2 to 3 simple shots somehow. I had planned more. But, I was not able to execute it.
The drone shots from the first location, Photographed by “©” Vansh Tiwari
A time came when my drone started self-landing at some unknown location. I hurriedly canceled the landing and tried to return my drone to the take-off spot.
I succeeded in bringing my drone back. But I stayed baffled by what was happening.
I thought maybe it was the location; maybe I was near to some restricted building.
Genuinely, I was not satisfied.
The next day
After having lunch, I identified a spot to fly my drone.
I thought the drone was not flying the previous day because of some restrictions nearby.
Then, I went to a spot from where the Merdeka 118 building could be spotted. Though, I was standing in a narrow lane. Moreover, I had planned to fly my drone from there.
As my drone went to some 100 meters, it started showing connection lost again.
What does connection lost mean when flying a drone?
Ultimately, the drone is operated via a remote controller. So, the drone wasn’t able to receive the signal, and it was getting broken from the remote controller. Therefore, I couldn’t operate it.
An instance came where my drone again started automatically landing at some unknown location. Moreover, I could see it was landing on a temple roof-top. Though, I didn’t want that to happen.
So, I canceled the landing. And somehow, I managed to bring it back. But, this time, it was getting even more troublesome to bring it back because the connection was hardly coming.
I wasn’t able to instruct my drone on what to do. Thus, it was even more challenging.
Eventually, I landed my drone safely. From this location, I didn’t get even a single good shot.
After much thinking and consideration, I concluded that the city has put jammers so that drones cannot fly.
Maybe not the whole city, but surely, the main tourist attractions and crowded areas.
I stayed in Chinatown and went to 2 different locations, 20mins away from each other. In both locations, I was unsuccessful in flying my drone effortlessly.
Hence, a jammer.
Especially in this case, a jammer does not allow the drone to receive signals from the remote controller, which is at the ground level. The connection often gets lost, and you can’t operate your drone.
A jammer could be for cell phones also. It’s just what purpose you’re using the jammer for.
Conclusion
Hence, you cannot fly drone in Kuala Lumpur, mainly the touristy locations and significant landmark buildings.
But maybe you can try it on the outskirts. You have to try & test—I haven’t tried.
Due to disturbing weather, I didn’t get a chance to fly my drone on the way to Genting Highlands. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have tried there.
However, I had seen the videos on YouTube where people were showing footage of the Kuala Lumpur city and some major landmarks via aerial. But I don’t know how.
Maybe the restrictions might have been imposed sometime earlier.
Kuala Lumpur is an incredible city to explore, with stunning streets and captivating architecture. Don’t get disappointed; you have plenty to see from the ground.