EASA Drone Regulations
DR 2019/945 | IR 2019/947
– FULLY UPDATED –
December 31st 2020
- The partial application of Regulation EU 2019/947 begins.
- European Registry of Operators (AESA registration and European EASA repository).
As we told you in the post about Spanish drone laws, there are many novelties concerning the use of drones, as well as their design and manufacture by the different drone brands.
The new EASA drone Regulations aims to standardize the different regulations of the Member States and to regulate the civil use of drones regardless of their size or weight.
In this way, it will be possible to provide a common regulatory framework that covers all possible operational scenarios, and which is in line with current technological reality.
As we shall see below, the new EASA drone regulations establishes significant differences concerning current Spanish regulations, especially in the requirements for training drone pilots, the process of registering new operators and the technical features that the aircraft must have to obtain EC certification.
When is the EASA drone Regulations
2019/947 and 2019/945 applied?
Although they have been in force since their publication in 2019, it is not until 2021 that their progressive application begins. And, although the first changes were initially planned for 1 July 2021, the situation caused by the COVID-19 health crisis forced a delay.
For several years now, the new Implementing Regulation 2020/746 has been available, which modifies the dates indicated in SR 2019/947, and sets new deadlines adapted to the current situation.
Thus, the implementation schedule of the new European Regulation on UAS, updated with the latest published deadlines, is as follows:
January 1st 2022
- The Spanish regulations are no longer in force.
- Deadline for the operators’ registry and pilot certification conversion to the standard established by the new EASA drone regulations.
From the application of the Delegated Regulation 2019/945, the technical requirements and specifications that must be incorporated, in a mandatory way, by the drones destined to the operations under open category (that we will see later) are standardized.
The systems, applications and accessories accompanying the drone are included. Also, the safety information that the aircraft must detail in the manuals.
Of the two new regulations, the one that interests us most, both pilots and operators, is the one that regulates their use, the 2019/947 Implementing Regulation. From now on, three different operational categories are established, according to the level of risk of the operation itself.
Thus, the classification will be as follows: open category for low-risk procedures; specific category for medium risk; and certified category for flights presenting a high level of risk.
It also recalls that you will have to take account of IR 2020/746 of 4 June, which modifies the paragraph on the dates of IR 2019/947, in order to adapt it to the new international context on the occasion of COVID-19.
1. OPEN CATEGORY
This operational category includes low-risk flights for which no prior authorisation or declaration by the operator is required.
The explicit prohibitions for the open category are:
- The overflight of groups of persons.
- The carriage or dumping of dangerous materials or goods.
- Autonomous operations.
Furthermore, open category establishes a certain number of requirements to be met:
- The pilot must be at least 16 years old (it is possible to carry out the flight under the direct supervision of a remote pilot who meets the applicable requirements).
- Registration of the UAS operator (exceptions may apply).
- Pass a theoretical online training and examination (online training and examination for subcategories A1 and A3; classroom examination for subcategory A2).
- Always keep the UAS in the line of sight (the ‘First Person View’ and ‘Follow-me’ flight modes can be considered under certain conditions as VLOS).
- The maximum height of the operation is 120 meters.
- The maximum take-off weight of the drone is 25 kg and, in addition, it must be marked according to the applicable requirements.
Besides, three different subcategories are established based on operational limitations, requirements to pilots and technical requirements of the UAS.
SUBCATEGORY
A1
For drones of less than 250 g, of private construction before the standard, or of type C0 and C1, which fly over people not involved in the operation, it is established that it is necessary to know the aircraft manual.
Besides, for type C1, it will be necessary to take an online training course and pass a theoretical exam, also online.
SUBCATEGORY
A2
This subcategory is established for C2 type drones, i.e. weighing less than 4 kg and incorporating the e-ID, low-speed and geo-awareness systems). The flight is allowed near people outside the operation, provided that a safety distance of 5-30 meters is maintained.
For this purpose, it will be necessary to know the drone manual and to have a certificate of competence, obtained through training and theoretical-practical examination.
SUBCATEGORY
A3
For privately built or pre-standard drones under 25 kg, operations will be allowed in areas away from residential, recreational, industrial or commercial areas, within a minimum of 150 meters.
The requirements will be the knowledge of the user’s manual and the completion of an online course with its respective exam.
2. SPECIFIC CATEGORY
The new EASA drone Regulations dictates that the specific category applies to operations that do not fit into the open category, for risk reasons:
- BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) flights.
- Operations over 120 meters high.
- Drones over 25 kg.
- Urban flights with drones over 4 kg or without EC certification.
- Material dumping.
- Flight over crowds of people, etc.
Additionally, the following conditions must be met:
- The pilot must be at least 16 years old.
- The registration of the UAS operator is compulsory.
- A Specific Operations Risk Assessment performed by the UAS operator is required before applying to EASA.
Also, if NOT flying in the standard scenarios, which are specified below, the drone operator must own an operational license.
- STS-01: VLOS operations in a controlled land area in a urban environment with class C5 drones (UAS).
- STS-02: BVLOS operations in a controlled land area in a sparsely populated environment with class C6 drones.
In the following scheme, you can see the applicable operational requirements, according to the nature of each operation.
3. CERTIFIED CATEGORY
The general requirements for operations within the certified category are:
- Drones certified under the Delegated Regulation EU 2019/945.
- When flying over people with a UAS with a wingspan of more than 3 metres.
- When flying over crowds of people; transporting dangerous goods with high risk in case of an accident; or when it involves the transport of people.
- If the SORA submitted indicates the need for certification of the UAS the operator and the obtaining of the relevant pilot’s license.
The detailed rules concerning the certified category are still being developed by the EU.
As defined above, there are implementation periods for the new European regulation. Therefore, all the changes described above have been implemented gradually. In fact, since 2019 there has been a transition period during which the old legislation coexists with the new. Now, we are already experiencing the final stage of this transition.
Furthermore, as of 30 August 2024, only operational declarations based on European scenarios, STS-01 and STS-02, can be submitted.
It is also important to clarify that although European legislation aims to bring all EU Member States under the same regulatory framework, countries will still have discretion in some areas, such as the designation of UAS zones.
As always, we at One Air will keep you up to date with the latest regulations, so that you have everything you need to know to fly your drone with maximum safety. In the meantime, we recommend you read this article about DroneMask, a product that has revolutionised FPV flying.
