It’s an exciting time to be droning in Europe. The new EU drone legislation will be adopted in the entire EU as of 31ste of December. This will definitely make things a lot more coherent and transparent in my opinion. So less worries for you when traveling around! Here’s a little (simplified) summary:
- No more difference between recreational and professional pilots
- Most drone flights will happen in the ‘Open Category‘ = low risk flights with 3 subcategories: A1/A2/A3 (as opposed to the other 2 categories; ‘Specific’ and ‘Certified’)
- To fly most common drones (e.g. Mavic Air 1/2 or Mavic Pro 1/2) you’ll need to obtain at least the A3 certificate (free online exam)
- If you want to fly close to people and buildings you’ll need to obtain the A2 certificate as well (on top of your A3)
- The only exception is the DJI Mini 1/2 who can fly in the A1 category and fly in/over people and buildings (not large crowds though) – no certificate needed
- On top of your A3 certificate, you need to register as a drone pilot in your country of residence. You will get a personal registrar code you’ll need to stick onto your drone somewhere
- And lastly, you need a third-party insurance (usually covered in your existing family insurance, but best to double-check)
There, I hope this helps to summarize the new EU drone legislation for you a bit. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any doubts about your specific situation ?
Want to see some drone shots from Europe? Have a look at our last roadtrip through Germany and France.
For those of you living in Belgium (or droning in Belgium), here are 2 interesting links:
- map.droneguide.be (indicates the no-fly zones)
- mobilit.belgium.be (practical info on how to obtain your A3 and A2 certificates)
