Flying a drone without having a license is currently possible under current regulations.
Current drone regulations state that, as of the date you are reading this article, the only drones that do NOT require a licence are drones weighing no more than 250g. These are class 0 drones and, in order to fly them, all that is required of the pilot is that he/she is at least aware of the manufacturer’s instructions and fly only in the open category.
However, you should be aware that this will change from 2024, when these regulations will be updated and changed. From then on, all drone pilots, including pilots with a no license required drone who fly a drone under 250gr, WILL be required to have a licence.
If this is your case, from then on, you will have to take different types of training courses depending on the type of scenario and type of drone you want to fly:
- Basic Professional Drone Pilot Course (A1/A3)
- Basic Professional Drone Pilot Course (A2)
- Official AESA/EASA Professional Drone Pilot Course (STS)
The training will be done remotely with Aerocámaras, a leading company in the aeronautical sector in Spain.
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Flying no license required drones
No license required drones has become one of the star gifts at Christmas, for birthdays and for any other time, as they are very attractive and people who have no experience with them are very curious.
In my article on the best drones of 2023 I tell you which drones I consider the most interesting and worthwhile in terms of weight and price. There I will tell you about the best no license required drones to fly, which are drones under 250 grams.
If you are wondering “which no license required dronecan I fly”, here are the most commonly used models:
- DJI Mavic Mini (now discontinued, though you can get it second hand)
- DJI Mini 2
- DJI Mini 3
- Hubsan Zino Mini Se
- Potensic A20W
- Ryze Tello
- Xiami Fimi X8 Mini
AESA always reminds us that a drone is not a toy, it is an aircraft, and although you can take a drone photo and film videos with it, you need to know the regulations, thus appealing to the responsibility of adults towards children who might receive a drone as a gift.
Even if you intend to use a no license required drone recreationally, you should know where you can fly it in order to be more aware of the safety precautions to take.
Which drone requires a licence to be flown
The drones that require a licence are:
- Drones weighing more than 250 grams such as the Mavic Air 2s or Mavic 3.
- Drones weighing less than 250 grams but which, in the event of a collision, can transmit kinetic energy of more than 80 joules to a human being, such as racer drones.
What to do with a drone weighing less than 250 grams
Here’s what to do with a drone weighing less than 250 grams and its main considerations and rules:
- It is possible to fly the drone over buildings or gatherings of people up to a height of 20 metres.
- You can take drone photos and film videos if your drone has a camera, but you must comply with data protection regulations, the right to honour, privacy, personal image and any restrictions on photographic flight that may exist in the area where you decide to fly with the drone. You can check this on the Enaire Drones website that AESA makes available to us, so that we know at all times if we are flying in a restricted area or if we need a special permit.
Even if you have a no license required drone weighing less than 250 grams, you should be aware of some important considerations and restrictions before you start flying it:
- The most important thing is NOT to fly the drone in controlled areas (CTR zone) and always at least 8km away from an airport.
- Keep the drone ALWAYS in sight.
- You must fly in daylight and suitable weather conditions. You must not fly in fog, rain or strong wind.
- You cannot fly in National Parks, wildlife conservation areas, Biosphere Reserves and Protected Natural Areas (PNA) without an approved permit from the competent body. This information is also available on the ENAIRE Drones website, which I have just mentioned.
- You must carry a fireproof identification plate on both the drone and the radio control, which has been mandatory for all drones since 2021.
- Third party insurance is not compulsory, but it is advisable.
Fine for flying a drone without having a license
There are two scenarios in which you may be proposed for a fine if you fly a drone without having a license:
If you fly a drone without having a licence and you do so under circumstances that do not endanger yourself or others, such as reckless flying, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, absolutely nothing would happen.
But if you fly a license required drone and you don’t have one, you can get into big trouble and face fines that can be very large, and which vary depending on whether you are an individual or a company.
You are a private individual
If you are a private individual flying a drone without having a licence and aeronautical knowledge, fines can range from €60 to €225,000, depending on:
- If you commit a minor offence, fines can range from €60 to €45,000.
- When you commit a serious offence, the fine ranges from €45,001 to €90,000.
- But if you commit a very serious offence, fines can range from €90,001 to €225,000.
You are a company
And if you are a company, regardless of whether you have knowledge or not, the infringements are significantly higher:
- For minor offences, fines range from €4,500 to €70,000.
- For serious misconduct, the fine will range from €70,001 to €250,000.
- And if you commit a very serious offence, the fine you can receive will be between 250,001 and 4.5 million euros.
For this reason it is important that you know what you are doing at all times, whether you have a license to fly a drone or not, or you fly a drone over 250gr or not. You need to be aware of the regulations to save yourself a lot of trouble and, most importantly of all, so that third parties do not suffer the consequences of malpractice.
Do you think a no license required drone is your best option today, which drone are you planning to buy? Share your experience here, I read you!
