DRONEGEEK.EU

Do I need to register?

10th January 2022

Now that you've gotten hold of a drone, how do you know if you need to register? What's the regulation? What decides if you need to register or not? Where do you go? Do you register yourself or your drones?

The short answer

Yes, with some small exceptions.

When and what to register

Unless your drones is a toy or weighs under 250g without a camera, they you must register.

You register yourself as a drone operator, or more correctly as an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Operator. An exception to this are higher risk certified drones such as air taxis.

Reference

Reg (EU) 2019/947, article 14, para 5

UAS operators shall register themselves:

(a) when operating within the ‘open’ category any of the following unmanned aircraft:

i. with a MTOM of 250 g or more, or, which in the case of an impact can transfer to a human kinetic energy above 80 Joules;

ii. that is equipped with a sensor able to capture personal data, unless it complies with Directive 2009/48/EC.

(b) when operating within the ‘specific’ category an unmanned aircraft of any mass.

Where to register

Only register in one country, as you cannot register twice.

Reference

Reg (EU) 2019/947, article 14, para 6

UAS operators shall register themselves in the Member State where they have their residence for natural persons or where they have their principal place of business for legal persons and ensure that their registration information is accurate. A UAS operator cannot be registered in more than one Member State at a time.

How to register

If you live in the EU, contact your country's National Aviation Authority (NAA) and ask them the process for your country. There will be an identification process and a small fee.

If you are visiting, pick the first EU country you plan on operating in first and contact their NAA.

Reference

Reg (EU) 2019/945, article 44, para 2

The competent authority for the third-country UAS operator shall be the competent authority of the first Member State where the UAS operator intends to operate.

Model aircraft

Model aircraft are also UAS, but, your model aircraft club may have permission to register you using the information you gave them when you joined. Check with your club.

Reference

Reg (EU) 2019/947, article 16, para 4

Member States may enable model aircraft clubs and associations to register their members into the registration systems established in accordance with Article 14 on their behalf.If this is not the case, the members of model aircraft clubs and associations shall register themselves in accordance with Article 14.

Toys

Toy drones are exempt from registration. A drone is considered a toy if it states on the box or in its documentation that it complies with the regulation on toy safety and it is intended "for use in play by children under 14 years of age". These types of drones are usually small and only suitable for indoor flying

Joules

The observant amongst you would have noticed the extra criteria for triggering registration. An drone "which in the case of an impact can transfer to a human kinetic energy above 80 Joules". How this is calculated is for another post. Just know that is captures small and very fast drones, such as some FPV racing drones.