Drones at airports: rules & limits

Geozones and the dipul map: how to check no-fly zones for drones

The dipul map shows where drone geozones lie in Germany. The guide explains the eleven area types in § 21h LuftVO, how to use the map tool, the new DFS zones in control zones and the limits of the map.

Taking your drone on vacation: what applies in other EU countries and what to check first

Your registration and competency certificate from Germany are valid in all EASA states. But each country sets its own geographical zones, insurance requirements and local bans. This guide shows what travels with you and what you need to clarify on site.

Taking a drone on a plane: battery rules, carry-on and airline requirements

The drone can come on vacation, but the batteries can’t go in your checked bag. Watt-hours, spare battery limits, terminal protection, security screening and airline requirements at a glance – with a packing list.

Flying a drone in Austria: Austro Control, registration and no-fly zones

In Austria, Austro Control is the central authority for drones: registration, competency certificate, geozones and clearances in control zones all run through the Dronespace system. The guide explains what applies to residents and visitors – and why airports stay off limits for hobby pilots.

Registering your drone: operator registration with the LBA and attaching the e-ID correctly

From 250 grams, or with a camera on board, you need an operator registration with the Federal Aviation Office in Germany. The guide explains the obligation, costs, process, the format of the e-ID and how the number gets onto your drone.

Flying a drone in Switzerland: FOCA rules, registration and airport zones

Since January 2023, the European drone rules have applied in Switzerland – with a few Swiss specialties. Registration, certificates, insurance, Remote ID, the drone map and the situation around airports at a glance.

Drones over residential areas, crowds and nature reserves: the rules at a glance

Over the neighbor’s garden, the town festival or a nature reserve, drones face rules of their own. The overview explains what Section 21h LuftVO and the EU drone regulation allow, where you need consent and what this means for spotters with a drone.

Drones under 250 grams: which rules still apply

Under 250 grams doesn’t mean rule-free. The guide shows what really falls away for mini drones, what remains – from registration and insurance to geozones – and why airports are off limits even for lightweights.

Drones near airports: the rules in Germany and the EU

Around airports, it is practically over for private drone pilots. The overview explains the 1,000-meter zone, the extended runway centerlines, control zones, basic EU rules and the situation in Austria and Switzerland.

Drone classes C0 to C6: what the class label means

The small label on your drone and its packaging decides where you may fly and how close to people. Here is what C0 to C6 mean, which subcategory each class opens up and why no class changes anything at an airport.

Airport drone defense: radar, RF detection and legal limits

A single drone can shut down a major airport for hours. How detection with radar, direction finding and cameras works, which countermeasures exist, who may intervene in Germany and what it means for plane spotters.

EU A1/A3 certificate of competency: how to get your drone license online from the LBA

The basic drone license is a purely online procedure at Germany’s Federal Aviation Office. Here is who needs the certificate, how training and exam work, what it costs, how long it is valid and where its limits lie – especially around airports.

EU A2 remote pilot certificate: requirements, exam and benefits

The “advanced drone license” of the open category: how to earn the EU A2 remote pilot certificate, which exam topics to expect, what the certificate allows – and what it explicitly does not change for spotters at the airport.

Drone sightings at airports: how a closure unfolds, DFS figures and consequences

A single drone report can paralyze a major airport for half an hour or longer. How controllers, airport and police respond, how the DFS statistics have developed and what you should know as a spotter at the fence.

Drone insurance: mandatory liability cover, coverage amounts and what to look for

In Germany, you need liability insurance for every drone – regardless of weight. The guide explains the legal basis, the owner’s role, the statutory minimum coverage and the clauses on which policies fail when it counts.

FPV drones: observer requirement, classification and the legal framework

With goggles on, you fly without line of sight to the drone – which is why EU law requires an observer next to you. Here is how homebuilt drones are classified, when you fly in A1 or A3 and what is different in a club.

The 2018 Gatwick drone incident: timeline, aftermath and open questions

Just before Christmas 2018, almost everything stood still for days at the UK’s second-largest airport because of reported drones that were never found. A look back at the timeline, the investigation, the legal changes and the doubts that remain.

Aerial photos of airports: when a drone can be approved in a control zone

Aerial photos of an airport are not impossible in principle, but they hinge on three hurdles: an operational authorization in the “specific” category, air traffic control clearance in the control zone and consent on the ground. This guide shows who realistically has a chance.

Model aircraft flying in a club: Article 16, association rules and flying sites

Flying with a model aircraft association gives you a separate route through EU drone law. How Article 16 works, what § 21f LuftVO requires, which association rules apply and why airports stay off limits.

Drone Remote ID: direct remote identification, requirements and technology

Class C1 to C3 drones broadcast a digital license plate in flight. What exactly is transmitted, who can receive it, how to enter your e-ID correctly and why Remote ID is not ADS-B for drones.

The “specific” category: SORA, standard scenarios and operational authorization explained

As soon as a drone flight exceeds the limits of the open category, you need a declaration or an authorization. Here you learn how the “specific” category is structured, what is behind SORA, PDRA, STS and LUC, and why it is no free pass at the airport.