Safety & Regulations

The obligatory online training and the obligatory test contribute to more safety and fewer (potential) accidents. With a completed proof of knowledge, you will become more confident in handling your drone.

IAA data storage and use of personal data is fully compliant with all GDPR requirements. For more information, consult the IAA Privacy Policy.

‘Open’ category - operations that present a low (or no) risk to third parties.  Operations are conducted in accordance with basic and predefined characteristics and are not subject to any further authorisation requirements.

‘Specific’ category - This category is intended for drone missions that exceed one or more of the requirements of the "Open" category (e.g., flights over 120 meters, flying out of line of sight). The operating license required for this must be obtained from IAA. For the application for the operating license, a risk assessment of the use must be submitted in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Alternatively, instead of an application, a declaration may be sufficient if a risk assessment has already been carried out for the intended use and published as a so-called standard scenario.

For information on Open and Specific Category of drone operations, visit the EASA FAQs on drones.

The Regulations use the term UAS, unmanned aircraft system, to refer to a drone, its system and all the other equipment used to control and operate it, such as the command unit, the possible catapult to launch it and others.

A UAS operator is a natural or legal person that operates or intends to operate one or more UAS. A UAS operator can also be the UAS pilot at the same time.
Example: A person who pilots a UAS for a company is the UAS remote pilot. The company is the UAS operator.

EU Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945 govern the use of drones in Ireland and across the European Union

No, provided you adhere to the limits prescribed within the open category and the EASA safety guidance material. You will need to apply for an operational authorisation if you would like to fly in the specific category.

If you wish to fly your drone outside the limits prescribed in the regulations, you must apply for an Operational Authorisation from the IAA following training with one of the IAA approved drone training facilities.

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.

Yes. From 1 July 2022, the drone must be able to indicate its position from all sides with a green flashing light. Until then, any marking of the drone will be allowed if the remote pilot is able to maintain visual orientation with the drone throughout.

To get an Operational Authorisation, you must first attend a drone safety training course and produce an operations manual that is acceptable to the IAA. Please see Aeronautical Notice U.02 for more detailed information. To apply, go to the drone application form here.

You, as drone operator, are always required to have an insurance for your drone unless for recreational purposes and under 20kg However, IAA recommends third party insurance also if you are operating a lighter drone. The IAA recommends that everybody who operates a drone has insurance. More information on insurance can be found here.

Irrespective of whether your drone has an inbuilt or mounted camera or not, the same conditions apply. See Data Protection Commissioner website for more on this.

The regulations apply EVERYWHERE in Irish airspace. Be advised that there may be privacy or trespass laws or other legal issues that should be taken into consideration by the person operating the drone. 

Like mobile phone cameras, video doorbells, and dashcams, drones are highly likely to capture personal data of passers-by (data subjects). Where identifiable information (e.g., car license plates, visibly identifiable faces, etc) is captured, the operator qualifies as a data controller. 

Concerns relating to your data protection rights should be raised to the data protection commission providing the details of the data controller. You should try to contact the data controller wherever possible and appropriate. 

The data protection commission provides guidance on the use of drones available here.

Other concerns of drone usage should be reported to the IAA here. 

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has published an FAQs on the European drone’s regulation: Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945. These FAQs focus on the Open and Specific category of operations and are designed to support the drone community in flying and operating drones safely.

While there is no minimum age for operating a drone in aviation regulation, the IAA advises that age guidelines indicated by drone manufacturers are followed.

 You must be over 16 to register as a drone operator under EU law. A parent or guardian may register the drone for those under 16 they must also train and supervise them at all times. Please note that other laws may apply.

No permission is needed from the IAA to use drones commercially. However, if you wish to fly your drone outside the limits prescribed of the open category in the regulations you must apply for an Operational Authorisation from the IAA.

A drone can be classified as "open" when it:
• bearing one of the class identifications marks 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, or is privately built and its weight is less than 25 kg

• or is purchased before 1 January 2024 without a class identification sticker as above (Legacy drone)

• and not flown directly over people unless it is fitted with a class identification mark

• or is lighter than 250g (See Operations subcategories: A1, A2 and A3 to find out where you can fly your drone),

• kept in visual line of sight (VLOS), or a UA observer will assist the remote pilot,

• is flown at a height of no more than 120 meters above the ground

• do not fly with dangerous goods

• nothing is dropped or ejected from the drone.

See table below 

It is a type of operation in which the remote pilot can 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.

An autonomous UAS is an unmanned aircraft that performs the operation safely without any external intervention (e.g., pilot intervention). It is controlled by an artificial intelligence system, which handles all unforeseen or emergency situations.

In the case of an automatic UAS, all stages of the flight are predefined by the UAS pilot before the start of the operation.

The use of automatic UAS is allowed in all categories of UAS operations, while stand-alone UAS are not accepted in the "open" category.

A assembly of people is a gathering of people who cannot disperse due to population density.

Examples of crowds:

• Sports, cultural, religious, or political events
• Crowded beaches or parks
• Streets, street shops, etc
• Resorts.

Uninvolved persons are persons who do not participate or are not involved in the UAS operation and do not know the instructions and procedures of the UAS operator. 
A person is involved if he/she decides to take part in UAS operations and knows the associated risks. A video explaining this can be found here.

This distance is always measured from the surface of the ground. Use the image below for reference.