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The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has announced that it will establish a long-term drone safety zone over Cork City, ensuring the safe integration of drone operations in one of the country’s busier airspace environments. This decision follows a public consultation on the temporary Cork Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Geographical Zone (UGZ T2) and includes an important update:  the additional T2‑specific advance coordination is removed and local drone pilots flying within Visual Line‑of‑Sight (VLOS) will revert to the coordination requirements that existed prior to the introduction of the T2 zone. BVLOS drone flights will still be subject to full advance authorisation. These changes maintain stringent aviation safety standards while easing requirements for lower-risk drone activities. 

As the State’s civil aviation regulator, the IAA is responsible for ensuring all airspace users operate safely, including implementing European regulations for drones. Cork City lies entirely within the Cork Airport Control Zone (CTR) – a busy and complex segment of controlled airspace used by passenger flights, emergency aircraft, flight training and drones. Operating drones in such an area requires extra safeguards. The Cork BVLOS UAS Geographical Zone was originally introduced as a temporary measure to manage the risk of drone operations beyond the pilot’s direct line of sight in Cork’s skies. The zone ensures drones can co-exist safely alongside conventional aircraft by setting special operational conditions. 

The IAA emphasises that a UAS Geographical Zone is purely an airspace safety tool. It does not rezone or change airspace ownership, does not make planning or commercial decisions, and by itself does not authorise any specific drone project or delivery service. Instead, the zone provides a structured safety framework for drone operations in complex environments solely to enhance aviation safety. 

 Public Consultation & Feedback: 

The IAA’s consultation saw strong public interest, with 662 submissions received (about 95% from the Cork region). Most respondents were members of the public with a smaller portion from registered drone operators. Many submissions raised broader concerns about drone activity – such as privacy, noise, environmental impact, drone deliveries, and fair access to airspace – issues that extend beyond this specific airspace safety measure. Fewer than one in ten responses directly addressed technical aspects of the proposed zone itself or its regulatory function. The IAA noted these wider concerns but clarified that such matters are part of a larger national policy framework for UAS (drones) conversation on drones, rather than decisions about a specific safety zone. 

Key Outcomes: 

A primary concern highlighted by respondents was the potential burden of requiring prior coordination for ordinary VLOS drone flights in Cork’s airspace. After reviewing safety assessments and considering the consultation feedback, the the advance coordination requirement for VLOS operations within the Cork T2 zone will be removed. VLOS drone operators will simply continue to follow standard drone safety rules – keeping drones within sight and away from other aircraft – without any added paperwork or permissions. In contrast, all BVLOS drone flights in the zone will still require explicit IAA approval, as these beyond-line-of-sight operations carry higher risk and complexity. This adjustment means low-risk drone users benefit from simpler procedures, while the overall high level of airspace safety in Cork City’s airspace is fully maintained. 

 The Cork UGZ T2 aligns with Ireland’s National Policy Framework for UAS (drones). That wider framework, launched by the Department of Transport in August 2025, guides national drone integration over the coming decade. It addresses strategic issues like privacy, and environmental considerations such as noise and local planning for drones, outside the IAA’s specific remit of airspace safety regulation. By working within this national context, the IAA ensures that the Cork drone zone complements broader efforts to manage drones responsibly across Ireland. 

Next steps: 

The Irish Aviation Authority will formally establish the Cork T2 UAS Geographical Zone on a long-term basis as a “Safety Information” zone. This designation confirms that no special restrictions apply to VLOS drone flights within the zone (apart from normal safety rules), while BVLOS operations will require authorisation by the IAA. The IAA will act as the controlling authority for the zone and will periodically review the arrangement to adapt to any future changes in technology or safety needs. A revised Aeronautical Notice detailing the permanent Cork UGZ and its operating conditions will be published separately, no later than 14th of May 2026. 

The consultation report and comment response document can be found at iaa.ie/consultation