The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) has one in 2024 general regulation enacted, which reduces the minimum distance requirements of subcategory A3.

Operations for agriculture and animal welfare

It means drones can now fly at a reduced minimum distance of just 10 meters from residential, industrial or recreational areas, provided they are used for agricultural purposes or animal welfare.

This adjustment is only valid in Germany.

Calculate distance

The new German regulations also set a ratio of 1:1 for the lateral distance to the above-mentioned areas, based on the flight altitude of the drone. This means that if a drone flies higher than 10 meters, the lateral distance to, for example, residential areas must be increased accordingly, while all other Open A3 regulations remain in force.

Provisional regulation for now

This special national regulation is provisionally valid until November 19, 2024. The aim is to facilitate the use of drones in agriculture in fields adjacent to built-up areas or recreational areas, thereby improving both the efficiency and safety of such operations. Perhaps other countries will follow the German example, but this is a national adaptation. Not from EASA.