First of all, congratulations on your new drone! Flying drones is an exciting and challenging activity. Once you’ve mastered flying, you’ll be able to take breathtaking aerial shots. However, before you can take off with your new drone, there are a few things you need to do. In this article we will explain step by step what you need to do before you are allowed to withdraw.

Step-by-step instructions for your first drone flight

1. Gain knowledge of drone rules and legislation
2. Obtain a drone certificate
3. Apply for registration number
4. Set remote ID

Knowledge of drone laws and regulations

There are European laws for flying drones. These apply to all EU countries, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

If your drone weighs more than 250 grams, you are required to purchase a drone certificate. During the training for the drone certificate, all European drone regulations are also explained in detail so that you are informed about all regulations.

The following overview shows the most important rules for flying drones in the open category:

• A drone may be flown at a maximum height of 120 meters.
• A drone must be flown within the pilot’s direct line of sight.
• It is not permitted to fly in restricted airspace (no-fly zone).
• It is not permitted to fly over uninvolved people.
• The operator must hold a European drone certificate.*
• The pilot must register as the owner of the drone.**

* If the drone weighs 250 grams or more when taking off.
** If a camera is attached to the drone or from 250 grams.

Each European country also has national laws regarding the use of drones. In the Netherlands, for example, it is forbidden to fly a drone at night. If you are flying in another country, also check the national regulations before your flight.

Obtaining the drone certificate

Before you can fly a drone, you often need a drone certificate. Which certificate you need and which subcategory you are allowed to fly in depends on the Cx label of your drone.

You can obtain the drone certificate by completing an online training course that explains all European drone laws. After you complete the training, you will take an online exam. Once you pass, you can apply for the official EU drone certificate. The drone certificate is valid throughout the EU.

Below you will find a practical overview of which certificate you need for which Cx label. The drone certificate is mandatory for drones over 250 grams; under 250 grams the certificate is recommended.

Not sure which certificate you need? With our decision aid you can easily calculate which certificate you need for your drone in order to be able to fly the drone in Europe.

Register as a drone operator

If you own a drone, you must register with the LBA register and apply for a registration number for the drone operator. You need an operator number if the drone has a camera on board or weighs more than 249 grams.

The registration number costs €20 for consumers. Companies pay €50 for the registration number. You will receive the registration number by email. The registration number (just the code before the hyphen) should be clearly visible on the outside of the drone.

Set the remote ID on your drone

Does your drone have a C1, C2, C3 or C4 label? Then you are obliged to send out the registration number via Remote ID. These drones support Remote ID, so you only need to enter the registration number in the settings. The drone automatically sends out the remote ID.

How to set your operator number on a DJI drone:

1. Turn on the remote control
2. Navigate to the settings menu, click on the three dots at the top right of the controller screen
3. Go to “Safety” in the settings menu
4. Scroll down to the “UAS Remote Identification” option
5. Open “UAS Remote Identification” and enter your operator number in the input field

The operator number must be entered completely.

Fly the drone!

Now that the administrative part is done, you can fly your drone! Have fun flying. If you still have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help you.