What are the European laws and regulations for drones?
Everything on European drone legislation
Do I need a drone license? Do I need to register my drone? And where can I fly with my drone? You'll find the answers to your questions about the European drone rules here.
Overview DJI drones and open category
| Cx label | Open category | Minimum distance to people and buildings | Drone course | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJI Mini | C0 | A1 | 50m | None |
| DJI Air 2S | No Cx label | A3 | 150m | Basic light |
| DJI Air 3 | C1 | A1 | 50m | Basic light |
| DJI Mavic 3 Classic | C1 | A1 | 50m | Basic light |
| DJI Mavic 3 Pro | C2 | A2 | 50m | Basic |
| DJI Avata and FPV | No Cx label | A3 | 150m | Basic light |
Which rules apply to your drone?
What does European legislation mean?
European legislation divides drone activities into 3 categories: open, specific, and certified. All drones up to 25kg are in the open category. These are all drones you can buy at Coolblue. If your drone weighs less than 250g, you don't need a course. For drones that weigh more than 250g, you do have to follow a course.
The open category
The open category is divided into subcategories: A1, A2, and A3. Drones with a C0 or C1 label belong in the A1 subcategory. This means you need to keep a 50m distance from people and roads. Drones with a C2 label belong in the A2 subcategory. You also need to keep a 50m distance in this category. If your drone has a C3 label or no Cx label at all, it belongs in the A3 subcategory. In this category, you need to keep 150m distance.
Note: for drones that fall into the A1 category, you only need a course if it weighs 250g or more.
Risk and drone course
The risk of the flight determines which drone course you have to follow. The subcategories A1 and A3 have a low risk. The drones in category A1 are very light. And with drones in category A3, you need to keep more distance. The A2 category has a high risk, because you keep little distance with these heavier drones. Due to the high risk, you have to follow a more extensive course. You need the 'Drone pilot basic light' course for the A1 and A3 subcategories and the 'Drone pilot basic' for A2.
Request a drone license
Cx labels
From 1 January 2024, all new drones receive a Cx label, from C0 to C4. Some older drones already have a Cx label. The Cx label determines in which open category your drone flies and which rules apply to your flight. Do you have an older drone without a Cx label? Your drone automatically belongs to the A3 open class, which means you have to keep more distance.
Request operator registration number
The first part of your registration is to apply for an operator registration number. This is required for drones that have a camera or weigh more than 250g. They'll send you this number, which you can stick on your drone with a plate. You can also link the number to the drone with your computer via software. When you start flying your drone, it broadcasts the number. This way, your drone is traceable anywhere in Europe. If you have several drones, you only need to request 1 number. You can use this for all your drones.
The European drone license
The second part of your registration is to apply for a drone certificate. This is only necessary if your drone weighs more than 250g. In the Netherlands, you can do this at the RDW and in Belgium at the DGLV. The first part of your registration is to apply for a drone license. You can do this after you've successfully completed the course and the exam.
