There are a number of things you need to take care of before you are allowed to fly a drone under 250 grams. This includes insurance, registration and compliance with drone rules. We have listed all the points and answered the most frequently asked questions about flying a drone under 250 grams.
Where can I fly my drone under 250 grams?
A drone under 250 grams falls into subcategory A1. There are a number of drone rules to follow in subcategory A1.
Read the most important drone rules below:
- You are allowed to fly in uncontrolled airspace
- They are allowed to fly a maximum of 120 meters high
- The drone must be flown within direct line of sight of the pilot
- Flying over buildings is permitted if you have permission from the owner
- Flying over people is permitted, flying over groups is prohibited
- Night flights are allowed in Germany
One of the most important rules is flying in uncontrolled airspace. The drone pilot should check this before his flight. To do this, you can use an interactive aerial map like this one from dpul use.
You can read more about the drone map and airspace in Germany in this blog.
How high can you fly a drone under 250g?
In the open category, a maximum height of 120 meters can be flown. The 120 meters are calculated from the drone’s launch site. If you want to fly higher than 120 meters, you need a permit.
Do drones under 250 g require insurance?
Before you can fly a drone in Germany or Austria, you must take out drone liability insurance. Everyone is required to have insurance; there is no distinction between drone flights for private or business purposes.
The insurance requirement also applies to drones weighing less than 250 grams.
Do I need to apply for a registration number for a drone under 250 grams?
If you own a drone, you must register and apply for a drone license plate. You can apply for the drone license plate via the LBA and you will then receive a code by email. This is the operator number. The operator number should be clearly visible on the outside of the drone in the form of a sign or sticker.
You need an operator number if:
- the drone has a camera on board, or
- the drone weighs more than 249 grams
Toy drones do not need to be registered; these are drones under 250 grams without a camera. You can read more about the registration number in this blog.
Do I need a drone license for a drone under 250 grams?
A drone license is not required for drones weighing less than 250 grams. However, it is recommended to acquire the A1/A3 drone driving license.
If you violate the drone rules, you risk a hefty fine. In the training for the A1/A3 drone driving license you will learn everything about European drone legislation, all drone rules and where you are allowed to fly your drone. With the A1/A3 drone license you can fly drones up to 25 kg throughout Europe.
