In short
- Do not assume drone footage can be arranged at the last minute.
- CAAM asks for standard applications at least 14 working days before the activity.
- Sabah and Sarawak need additional authorisation, and the venue has its own say.
- We plan a ground alternative at the same time, so the film is complete either way.
Do not plan on getting drone approval at the last minute. the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) asks for standard applications at least 14 working days before the activity, so the sensible time to raise drone footage is when you set the date, not when the invitations go out.
What do the 14 working days really mean?
CAAM states that standard drone applications should reach it at least 14 working days before the activity. Working days leave out weekends and public holidays, so this is usually close to three calendar weeks, and longer around festive periods.
That is the minimum stated by the authority. It is not a promise that approval will arrive in that time, and it does not decide who may fly. The proposed flight still has to be reviewed by the drone operator. Our guide to drone footage in an event video package explains what else is confirmed.
What can add time?
Several things sit on top of the CAAM minimum:
- Sabah and Sarawak: CAAM notes additional authorisation in both states. See our questions for Sabah and Sarawak.
- The venue: hotels, convention centres, parks and private grounds may have their own filming and flying rules. Ask early and in writing.
- Crowds and sensitive areas: a flight near many people or restricted areas needs closer review. See crowds and restricted areas.
- Public holidays and school breaks: working days are fewer than they look.
A worked timeline
This is an illustrative example, not a record of any event. Say your annual dinner is on a Saturday and you would like aerial shots of the resort entrance and grounds.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| About two months before | You tell us you want drone footage and share the date and venue. |
| Soon after | The venue is asked in writing whether flying is allowed. We check whether your state needs extra authorisation. |
| At least 14 working days before | The standard application is in. Earlier is safer. |
| About a week before | You know the answer, or you switch to the ground plan. |
| Event day | The flight goes ahead only if approval, conditions and the operator’s judgement all agree. |
If the venue says no in the first week, you have lost nothing and the ground plan is already underway.
If your event has several dates or sites, such as a roadshow, list each one. Each place and date is applied for on its own, so a long programme needs the earliest start.
What if your date is already close?
Tell us the date and venue as they are. We tell you early whether the timeline looks realistic for your date.
When it is too late, aerial shots are not the only way to show scale. A raised ground position, a stage-side camera or a wide shot from a balcony can give a similar sense of place. The drone coverage planning checklist lists these alternatives, and our page on event drone footage explains how drone works as an optional extra.
What we confirm for your event
- Who applies for approval, and by when we need your venue details.
- Whether the date is realistic for your state and venue.
- The ground coverage planned alongside the drone.
- What the quote says if the flight cannot go ahead. See what happens when a booked flight cannot proceed.
Send us the date and we work through these with you.
If your date is already fixed, send us the date, venue and what you hope the aerial shots will show. We will tell you what looks possible, and plan ground coverage alongside.
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- CAAM, Unmanned Aircraft System, checked 2026-10-06
Checked on the date shown. Rules and venue requirements change, so confirm them for your own event.