Most drone flights are conducted in the open category. In the open category, you are allowed to fly a drone in uncontrolled airspace, also known as “clear” airspace. In areas where you are allowed to fly a drone, there are a number of rules that you must follow as a drone pilot.

Where are you allowed to fly a drone in Germany?

General rules where you can fly a drone in the open category:

• You are allowed to fly the drone in uncontrolled airspace, i.e. in airspace without restrictions.
• You are allowed to fly the drone up to a maximum height of 120 meters.
• The drone must be flown within direct line of sight of the pilot.
• Flying over buildings is permitted if you have the appropriate certificates.
• Night flights are permitted; the green lights on the drone must be flashing.

Before you fly, you must check in which airspace you will be flying.

In which airspace can I fly a drone?

There are different types of airspace in the Netherlands. Below you will find an overview of the different zones. The new platform Dipul offers a digital map for Germany.

Based on Dipul:

• Unmarked areas (open airspace)
• Air traffic areas (red – prohibited)
• Protected areas (green – forbidden)

In the open category you are only allowed to fly in the unmarked areas. Dipul’s drone map shows where you are not allowed to fly.

Can I fly a drone over built-up areas?

It is allowed to fly over built-up areas if you have the appropriate certificates and permission from the owner. Which certificate you need depends on the weight of the drone or the drone’s Cx label. The table below shows which certificates you need to fly over buildings.

* Only relevant in 2023

Drones over 2 kg without a C2 marking are not allowed to fly over built-up areas.

If the drone is heavier than 500g or has a C2 marking, you must have the A2 certificate to fly over buildings. The A2 certificate is a supplement to the basic A1/A3 certificate. With the A2 certificate you can operate slightly more difficult drone licenses over buildings.

Where are you not allowed to fly a drone?

General rules where you are not allowed to fly a drone:

• Fly no higher than 120 meters
• Do not fly in controlled airspace (within no-fly zones).
• Do not fly drones over buildings without the appropriate certificates
• Do not fly over groups of people
• Do not use drones near airports, military bases, trauma helicopter approach routes, etc

What rules does a pilot have to follow when flying a drone?

General rules and requirements for the drone pilot:

• You are allowed to fly a drone independently if you are at least 16 years old
• You are allowed to carry out drone flights under the age of 16 with a companion. An accompanying person is a person aged 16 or over who holds an EU drone driving license. This person always has a view of the drone and is in direct contact with the pilot.
• Of course, you must have your EU drone license in your pocket when you fly.
• You have registered as an operator and attached the registration number to the drone
• You must take out liability insurance
• You respect other people’s privacy

Drone flight in Germany? Get your EU drone license

The EU drone driving license is often required to fly a drone in Germany. You can easily purchase the EU drone driving license online. You complete an online training course and take an online exam. Once you have passed this, you can apply for the official EU drone license, which is recognized by the European agency EASA. Read all the information about the EU drone driving license here.

Do you have questions about where you can fly a drone in Germany or which certificate you need for your drone? Get in touch with us!