What has changed with the new EU drone regulation?

We have summarised the most important new features for you:

Open category and specific category

There is an open and a specific category. Flights in the open category are not subject to authorisation, whereas certain conditions must be met for the specific category.

Risk class specified by the manufacturer

If you buy an EU-certified drone, it will be labelled with a sticker. This will tell you which regulations apply to you.
Mandatory registration for drone operators

Drone operators must register with a national authority.

EU drone pilot licences

Pilots who fly drones weighing over 250 g and with a camera must obtain at least the small EU drone licence with an online test from a national authority. In addition, the large EU drone licence for extended flight options can be obtained from a recognised testing centre, such as Airclip.

Flying within visual range only (VLOS)

You may only fly as far away from yourself as you can still recognise the flight position of your drone without additional aids. It is therefore forbidden to fly using only the video image or the compass.

Max. Altitude 120 m

The maximum altitude above ground level (AGL) is 120 metres.

Specific category: additional registration of the flight with risk analysis

A risk analysis must be carried out for operations with increased risk. In individual cases, special permission must be obtained before the flight.