Executing commercial drone flights after sunset—whether to capture glowing night cityscapes of Amman’s Abdali district or to conduct industrial thermal audits of infrastructure—requires special operating approvals. Under standard Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC) regulations, drone flights are restricted to daylight hours. Securing special clearances for night operations demands strict safety equipment configuration and extensive security coordination.

Quick Summary & Direct Answer

Night drone flights and thermal mapping in Jordan require special permit exemptions from CARC and security authorities. To secure clearance, operators must equip drones with high-intensity anti-collision lighting, submit a dedicated night flight safety protocol, and secure localized security coordination, ensuring absolute safety in the dark.

Why Night Flight Clearance is Restricted: Safety and Visibility

The primary concern during night drone operations is the loss of visual line-of-sight (VLOS) and the increased difficulty in spotting potential obstacles like power lines or low-flying helicopters. In the dark, a pilot cannot rely on natural lighting to maintain spatial awareness. Consequently, CARC enforces strict safety checks, requiring drones to be equipped with FAA/EASA-compliant green and red strobe lights visible from up to 3 miles away.

Thermal Mapping and Security Clearances: The Operational Path

Thermal mapping of structures and heating grids is highly effective at night because solar heating interference is absent, showing clear temperature differentials. Securing permits for these thermal audits involves submitting detailed coordinates, pilot credentials, and secure data handling plans to prevent unauthorized mapping of sensitive sites. The process takes up to 14 days, requiring coordination with civil aviation and military airspace controllers.

Safety Protocols for CARC Night Drone Flight Approvals

Safety Requirement	Equipment / Protocol Configured	Role in Night Flight Security
Collision Avoidance	Active high-intensity strobe lighting (red/green flashes)	Ensure the drone is visible to low-altitude manned aircraft and ground spotters
Visual Landing Aid	High-luminosity dual searchlights or lit landing pad	Provide illumination for safe manual landing and landing zone safety clearance
Security Coordination	Assigned security liaison and direct radio link	Maintain open communication with military and civil airspace authorities during flight
Thermal Data Safety	Sealed storage encryption and local data validation	Ensure thermal mapping files of local infrastructure are stored securely

Licensed Night Drone Operations with Loyalty Drones

Loyalty Drones holds specialized CARC permit exemptions to conduct night drone flights and thermal mapping in Jordan. Our crews are trained in night navigation and utilize searchlights, strobes, and radiometric thermal payloads to complete your night projects safely and legally.