Frequently Asked Questions

The term "drone" has been used widely and for a long time. The more correct term is 'unmanned aircraft system', which refers to the drone itself, its operating system as well as any other equipment used by the remote pilot to operate it - such as the kit control,  launch catapult etc.

The aim of this regulation is to establish a legal framework consisting of rights and obligations, that allow drone pilots to fly safely, regardless of the European country in which they operate. The main objective is to ensure the safety of people both on the ground and in the air.

The regulation of drones is divided into three categories which have been determined according to the level of risk posed:

• OPEN
•  SPECIFIC
• CERTIFIED

The OPEN category imposes important rules that protect other aircrafts (planes, helicopters, ultralights, etc.) as well as people on the ground. Consequently, it is very important to know these conditions so as not to endanger individuals and / or material goods. Flying in the OPEN category without meeting all the requested criteria would pose too great a risk. This is why prior operational authorization will be required to fly under Special conditions in case any one criterion is not met.

In all cases, operations must take place in VLOS (visual flight) and at a maximum height of 120m.

In A1, it is possible to fly "close" to individuals WITHOUT FLYING OVER THEM with a UAS class mark C0 / C1. In the absence of class mark “C”, only UAS of less than 250gr can fly in A1 as from 01.01.2024.

In A2, it is possible to fly at a horizontal safety distance of:

• 5m in low-speed mode with a UAS class mark C2,
• 30m at normal speed with a UAS class mark C2,

In A3, it is possible to fly at a horizontal safety distance of 150m from any industrial, commercial, residential or leisure site and therefore from anyone not involved, with a UAS class mark C3/C4 or an UAS without class mark C with a mass between 250gr and 25kg as from 01.01.2024.

 Important : as from 01.01.2024, any unmarked UAS weighing more than 250gr will be authorized exclusively in category A3.

You may operate your drone in FPV in the OPEN category only if you have a person next to you, that keeps a direct visual contact with the drone, scans the airspace to make sure that you do not endanger other parties (e.g. aircraft or buildings or persons). This person must be located next you so they can immediately communicate with you in case they see an obstacle, and give you instructions, such as to immediately land the drone.

You may operate in the OPEN Subcategory A3 as a member of a model club or association that has received an authorization according to the Article 16 of the EU regulation 2019/947 from the DAC.

You will have to comply with the rules of the model club or association.

To find the model club or association having an authorization, you may consult the Air Safety Bulletin 2023/01.

Your training can be recognized only if a mutual recognition is establish between EU and your country.

For now, there is no such recognition and therefore your training/competencies are not recognized in Luxembourg.

For more information about the remote pilot competencies recognized in Luxembourg, please check the training page.

It is important to keep in mind that these rules are primarily intended to protect those around you, your friends, family members or passers-by who might be too close and therefore in danger if your UAS should fail and fall with all its weight.

In Luxembourg, the DAC is in charge of the safety and security of civil aviation and ensures compliance with the applicable rules.

Regular compliance checks will also be carried out on the ground by the Grand Ducal Police. Any non-compliance with the aforementioned rules will be penalized.

In Luxembourg, the DAC is the authority in charge of aviation safety and security. Also involved are managers of restricted geographic areas to which you may need to notify before any overflight. Finally, the coordination extends to the European level with the involvement of EASA (the Aviation Safety Agency of the European Union) and the national authorities of the countries concerned by the new Regulation. For the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, these entities can be the ANA (Administration de la Navigation Aérienne), the Grand Ducal Police or the managers of the UAS Geographical Zones.

Yes, provided that:

• you have done the training according to the prerequisites of the European regulation - OPEN training (accessible without age limit),
• you fly a drone bearing a valid registration number of a UAS Operator who has expressly given his/her consent,
• you are supervised by a person over 16 years old and who has the remote pilot qualifications required under the terms of the regulation,
• you respect all the prerequisites of the regulation and in particular the safety distances, the flight height and the Geozones.

It is the operator's responsibility to know all the characteristics of the drone he/she intends to operate. Regarding the question of the drone's weight, the operator is invited to consult the manufacturer's instructions and / or to weigh the drone himself/herself if accessories have been added to the drone while remaining compliant with the regulations. Ex: do not make a modification that could downgrade a drone marked "C" or switch its use to a more restrictive sub-category.

It is a type of operation in which the remote pilot is able to maintain continuous visual contact without assistance with his drone. This allows him to control the flight path of it in relation to other aircraft, from people and obstacles, to avoid collisions.

In principle, most drones on the market are equipped with altimeters that indicate the height of the drone. In case of doubt, it is always advisable to fly lower in order to be sure you respect the maximum authorized height.

In the OPEN category, flying over gatherings of people or people not involved in the drone operation is generally prohibited. It is therefore imperative to move the drone in such a way as to avoid any overflight of people and to maintain a horizontal safety distance according to the UAS Class.

If the overflight nevertheless remains inevitable and necessary, it must be operated under the cover of the Specific category and requires the operator / remote pilot to provide a detailed and documented risk analysis in accordance with the regulation in force.

When you fly a drone, an accident can happen. In the worst case, accidents involve human beings and / or property. This can result in bodily injury and / or material damage that must be compensated through liability insurance. If you are operating outside Luxembourg, please check the applicable national requirements: https://www.easa.europa.eu/domains/civil-drones/naa

As a minor, insurance must be taken out by the legal representative. The latter must ensure that this insurance covers the drone operations carried out by the minor concerned.

If the operator meets all the conditions for the OPEN category, then the operator must not contact the DAC in order to obtain an authorization prior to operating the drone. The operator is responsible for the strict compliance with the conditions to operate in the "OPEN" category.

These are the individual people who are not involved in drone operations, directly or indirectly. On the other hand, those involved in the operation are those who are familiar with the instructions and safety precautions given by the drone operator.

Please note: During large events (such as concerts or football matches), we speak of “gatherings of people”, in which case overflights are prohibited in the OPEN category. It would therefore not be enough to educate the public via loudspeaker or by warning on tickets.

This is the distance between the ground and the drone in a straight and vertical line, regardless of the position of the remote pilot. When the UAS starts from a natural elevation in the ground or flies over hilly terrain, the UAS should be maintained no more than 120 meters from the earth's surface below the device. Example: if the flight is operated from the highest point of a hill in a straight horizontal line, the height of the drone will gradually increase and at this time could exceed the authorized 120m. It is important to adjust the flight height at all times.

Generic Authorizations expire and no renewal will be possible. From this date, all UAS Operators will be able to operate in the following categories:

• OPEN Limited with drones NOT marked class “C”
• OPEN with drones marked class "C"
• Under the guise of a Specific Operational Authorization

Important notice: The UAS Operator must provide proof of a level of training equivalent to the European standards required for the OPEN A1/A3 categories and OPEN A2 if necessary.

For more information, visit the Let Me Fly webpage !