Drone: Pilotage rules to be respected - CE marked drone

Verified 01 janvier 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • CE marked drone (C0, C1, C2, C3, C4)
  • Class C1 drone
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A drone is an unmanned, passenger-free flying craft. It is remotely piloted, that is to say remotely piloted by a remotely piloted aircraft.

A drone marked CE allows you to fly in open category, that is, low risk. You can use it if you want to fly a drone for leisure or competition (aeromodelism).

These devices are:

  • Class C0 drone (less than 250 grams)
  • Class C1 drone (between 250 and 900 grams and equipped with a direct remote identification function)
  • Class C2 drone (between 900 grams and 4 kilograms and equipped with a remote direct identification function and a low speed mode)
  • Class C3 drone (between 4 and 25 kilograms and equipped with a remote direct identification function)
  • Class C4 drone (between 4 and 25 kilograms and equipped with a remote direct identification function)

The drone must be radio-controlled or controlled by a cable connected to a person or to the ground in the case of captive drones.

An information leaflet should be supplied with the packages drones for sale.

The content of this leaflet includes 10 rules to follow for all recreational drone use:

  • Not flying over people
  • Meet maximum flight heights (120 meters high)
  • Never lose sight of your device or use it at night
  • Do not fly over public space in built-up areas
  • Do not fly near airfields
  • Do not fly over sensitive or protected sites: nuclear power plants, military lands, nature reserves...
  • Respect the privacy of others, by not sharing the footage without the consent of the individuals involved, and by not making commercial use of it
  • Check the conditions under which one is insured for the practice of this activity
  • If in doubt, contact the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC).

Minimum age

You must be at least 14 to fly your drone.

However, you can use your drone without any age requirement in any of the following cases:

  • Your C0 drone is considered a toy (logos indicating the age of children who can play with it)
  • You are accompanied by a telepilot who is at least 16 years old.

Driver Registration

You must register online with the DGAC:

Recording of the pilot of a drone

At the end of the registration, an operator number, in the form of FRA + 13 characters, is given to you. You must write this number on your drone. The number must be legible when your drone is on the ground.

Training

You must complete an online training course entitled "A1/A3 Open Category" and pass an assessment test. It's a review of 40 questions. You need to get 75% good answers. There is no limit to the number of attempts.

The certificate is valid for 5 years.

Its renewal requires the re-passing of the evaluation test.

You may be fined €450 if you fly your drone without obtaining the certificate of success.

If checked, you risk a fine of €38 if you are unable to submit the certificate of achievement immediately.

The training is available on the Alpha Tango portal:

Online training for remotely piloting a drone in subcategory A1/A3

Drones: liability for damage caused

You may be liable for damage to other drones, people and property.

If you have not taken out specific insurance, check the terms of your civil liability contract.

You must register your drone with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC):

Recording of a drone

You may be fined €750 if you fly your drone without recording it.

The validity of registration may vary and is indicated on the certificate obtained. She's at most five years old.

The registration number shall be affixed to the drone, unless it is registered and its registration is already affixed. You may be fined €750 if you fly your drone without the registration number.

In case of modification of the drone, it is necessary to make a new registration. You may be fined €750 if you do not comply with this obligation.

If checked, you risk a fine of €38 if you are unable to present the registration certificate immediately.

Please note

For a minor or a protected adult (guardianship, etc.), the application for registration must be made by a legal representative.

There are areas where drone flying is permitted, and others where it is prohibited. Some areas have restrictions.

The map of restricted areas for recreational drones in metropolitan France is available on the online geoportal. It is an interactive map, on which it is possible to activate geolocation so that the map focuses on your position:

Geoportal - Check flight restriction areas

For example, the theft of drones is prohibited over certain sensitive or protected sites (nuclear power stations, military lands, historical monuments, prisons, nature reserves and national parks... ). It is prohibited near aerodromes, and in areas with a particular air activity (e.g. military traffic).

You cannot fly over nearby people and vehicles. You must keep a minimum safe distance from them. You need to stay away from gatherings of people.

On the other hand, the flight is authorized in private spaces with the agreement of the owner, in authorized aeromodeling sites or in certain public spaces.

You must inquire about these areas before flying.

The maximum flight height is 120 meters.

It is lower around aerodromes and in some military aviation training areas. During their activation hours, it is limited to less than 50 meters.

Before any flight, the maximum authorized height must be checked at the desired location. You can perform these checks on the dedicated online geoportal.

Geoportal - Check flight restriction areas

In case of violation of safety rules and no-fly bans, you risk 1 to 6 months imprisonment and €15,000 to €75,000fine and have your drone confiscated.

Identification of the drone: visibility

The drone must be visible to the naked eye and remain within the field of vision of the remote pilot. Immersion flights (FPV) and the use of follow drones are possible provided that a second person is present.

The remote pilot cannot be in a moving vehicle.

In case of violation of safety rules and no-fly bans, you risk 1 to 6 months imprisonment and €15,000 to €75,000fine and have your drone confiscated.

Electronic reporting

The electronic signaling device broadcasts the identity of your drone at regular intervals while it is in flight.

Some drones need to be equipped with them.

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Drone under 800 grams

Your drone can fly without issuing an electronic warning.

Drone over 800 grams

Your drone must issue an electronic warning. This device broadcasts at regular intervals the identity of your drone when it is in flight.

You may be fined €750 if you do not comply with this obligation.

Remote identification system

This system detects and alerts you to a potential airspace boundary violation to prevent it.

Some drones need to be equipped with them.

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People around the drone should be informed if the drone is equipped with a camera or sensors that can record data about them.

You cannot record images that allow you to recognize or identify people (faces, license plates...) without their permission.

Any image distribution must be authorized by the persons concerned or by the owner in the case of a private space (house, garden, etc.). You may not use the images taken for commercial or professional purposes.

In case of violation of privacy, by capturing, recording or disseminating images or words of people without their consent, you risk 1 year imprisonment and €45,000 of fine.

The use of drones is prohibited at night, even when equipped with lighting devices. Except for exceptions on certain aeromodelism association sites.

In case of violation of safety rules and no-fly bans, you risk 1 to 6 months imprisonment and €15,000 to €75,000fine and have your drone confiscated.