Open Category - Low Risk - Civil Drones

The ‘open’ category section is the main reference for the majority of leisure drone activities and low-risk commercial activities. 
As a drone operator, remember to check if you need to register yourself. See the registration FAQ.

The ‘open’ category is in turn subdivided in three sub-categories – A1, A2, A3 -- which may be summarised as follows:

  • A1: fly over people but not over assemblies of people
  • A2: fly close to people
  • A3: fly far from people

Each subcategory comes with its own set of requirements. Therefore, in the ‘open’ category, it is important to identify the subcategory of operation your activities will fall under, to determine which rules apply to you, and the type of training the remote pilot needs to undertake. See the FaQ ‘Which training I need to fly my drone in the open category’

Start by identifying the type of drone you own. A transitional period applies until 31 December 2023. Until that date, you do not need a special drone to operate in the ‘open’ category provided it weighs less than 25 kg.

Depending on the actual weight of the drone, different requirements apply according to Table 1 and Table 2 below: 

Table 1 — ‘Open’ category, applicable until 1 January 2024

Drones1

Table 2 — ‘Open’ category, applicable from 1 January 2024

Drones_3


Drones with a class identification label  (i.e. ,, , , , ,) are already available on the market. Please see the list below of drones that received the class identification label. If you want to purchase a drone with class identification, please check that the drone shows on its body the class identification. Several versions of the same drone may be available, with and without class mark. You can find additional information on drones with a class identification label in the Drones Information Notices webpage.

CLASS DESIGNED BY TYPE CATEGORY MODEL COMMERCIAL NAME LOW SPEED MODE NOISE LEVEL (db)
C0 DJI Multi-rotor

MT2SD

MT2SDCE

DJI Mini 2 SE N/A N/A
C0 DJI Multi-rotor MT3M3VDB DJI Mini 3 Pro N/A N/A
C0 DJI Multi-rotor MT4MFVD DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo N/A N/A
C1 DJI Multi-rotor EB3WBC DJI AIR 3 N/A 81
C1 DJI Multi-rotor

L2AA

L2PA

L2C

DJI MAVIC 3 V2.0

DJI MAVIC 3 Cine V2.0

DJI MAVIC 3 Classic

N/A 83
C2 DJI Multi-rotor

M30 RTK EU

M30T RTK EU

M30 EU

M30T EU

Yes 90
C2 DJI Multi-rotor

M3E-EU

M3T-EU

M3M-EU

DJI MAVIC 3E EU

DJI MAVIC 3T EU

DJI MAVIC 3M EU

Yes 82
C2 AgEagle Fixed-wing

SENSEFLY EBEE X

SENSEFLY EBEE GEO

SENSEFLY EBEE AG

SENSEFLY EBEE TAC PUBLIC SAFETY

Sensefly eBee No N/A
C3 Quantum-Systems GmbH Fixed-wing R10 Trinity F90+ N/A N/A
C3 DJI Multi-rotor M350 RTK Matrice 350 RTK N/A 97
C3 Wingtra Fixed-wing Wingtraone Gen II WingtraOne N/A N/A
C5 Objectifdrone Multi-rotor CHRONOS Chronos N/A 109
C5 Objectifdrone Multi-rotor CHRONOS MINI+ Chronos Mini+ N/A 104
C5 Aerobotic Multi-rotor Agry X Agry X N/A 83
C5 Aerobotic Multi-rotor Spray - L Spray - L N/A 78
C5 Aerobotic Multi-rotor Spray - S Spray - S N/A 82
C5 Dronavia Multi-rotor Kronos AD Mavic 3E
Kronos AD Mavic 3T
Kronos AD Mavic 3M
Kronos AD Mavic 3E
Kronos AD Mavic 3T
Kronos AD Mavic 3M
N/A 82
C5 DJI + Kit by Dronavia Multi-rotor M350 RTK Matrice 350 RTK N/A 97
C5 DJI + Kit by Flyingeye Multi-rotor M350 RTK Matrice 350 RTK N/A 97
C5 Flyingeye Multi-rotor

Mavic 3E Flysafe C5

Mavic 3T Flysafe C5

Mavic 3M Flysafe C5

Mavic 3E Flysafe C5

Mavic 3T Flysafe C5

Mavic 3M Flysafe C5

N/A 82
C6 Aerobotic Multi-rotor Agry X Agry X N/A 83
C6 Aerobotic Multi-rotor Spray - L Spray - L N/A 78
C6 Aerobotic Multi-rotor Spray - S Spray - S N/A 82
C6 Delair Fixed-wing

UX11-AG-C6

UX11-IR-C6

UX11-RGB- C6

UX11-AG-LE

UX11-IR-LE

UX11-RGB-LE

Delair UX 11 Caméra AG

Delair UX 11 Caméra IR

Delair UX 11 Caméra RGB

Delair UX 11 Longue Elongation Caméra AG

Delair UX 11 Longue Elongation Caméra IR

Delair UX 11 Longue Elongation Caméra RGB

N/A N/A

 

Starting from 1 January 2024, operations in the open category must be conducted with a drone:

  • bearing a C0 to C4 class identification label, or;
  • being privately built, or;
  • even without class identification label, but only if placed on the market before 31 December 2023.

Drones bearing a class identification label can be already utilised in accordance with the conditions shown in the menus below. Be aware that ‘privately built’ means that you built the drone for your own personal use, so it was not purchased; it does not refer to UASs assembled from sets of parts placed on the market as a single, ready-to-assemble kit.

How to operate drones in the open category from 01/01/2024 (These provisions already apply to drones with C-class marks)

  • Privately built and drones placed on the market before 01/01/2024 (under 250 gramm)

    Subcategory A1 (can also fly in subcategory A3)
    Operational restrictions
    • May fly over uninvolved people (should be avoided when possible)
    • No flight over assemblies of people
    Drone operator registration No, unless camera / sensor on board and a drone is not a toy
    Remote pilot competence No training required
    Remote pilot minimum age No minimum age
  • C0   (under 250 gramm)

    Subcategory A1 (can also fly in subcategory A3)
    Operational restrictions
    • No flight over assemblies of people;
    • Maintain flight altitude below 120m above ground level.
    Drone operator registration No, unless camera / sensor on board and a drone is not a toy
    Remote pilot competence Read carefully the user manual
    Remote pilot minimum age 16*, no minimum age if drone is a toy
  • C1   (under 900 gramm)

    Subcategory A1 (can also fly in subcategory A3)
    Operational restrictions
    • No flight expected over uninvolved people (if it happens, overflight should be minimised);
    • No flight over assemblies of people;
    • Maintain flight altitude below 120m above ground level.
    Drone operator registration Yes
    Remote pilot competence
    • Read carefully the user manual
    • Obtain a ‘Proof of completion for online training’ for A1/A3 ‘open’ subcategory by:
      • Completing the online training 
      • Passing the online theoretical exam
    Remote pilot minimum age 16*
  • C2   (under 4 kg)

    Subcategory A2 (can also fly in subcategory A3)
    Operational restrictions
    • Must not overfly uninvolved people;
    • Maintain a horizontal distance of 30 m from uninvolved people (can be reduced to 5 m if the low-speed function is activated);
    • Maintain flight altitude below 120m above ground level.
    Drone operator registration Yes
    Remote pilot competence
    • Read carefully the user manual
    • Obtain a ’Remote pilot certificate of competency’ for A2 ‘open’ subcategory by:
      • Having a ‘Proof of completion for online training’ for A1/A3 ‘open’ subcategory 
      • Conducting and declare a practical self- training
      • Passing an additional theoretical exam at the NAA or proctored online
    Remote pilot minimum age 16*
  • C3   (under 25 kg)

    Subcategory A3
    Operational restrictions
    • Must not overfly uninvolved people;
    • Maintain a horizontal distance of 150 m from uninvolved people and urban areas;
    • Maintain flight altitude below 120m above ground level.
    Drone operator registration Yes
    Remote pilot competence
    • Read carefully the user manual
    • Obtain a ‘Proof of completion for online training’ for A1/A3 ‘open’ subcategory by:
      • Completing the online training 
      • Passing the online theoretical exam
    Remote pilot minimum age 16*
  • C4   (under 25 kg)

    Subcategory A3
    Operational restrictions
    • Must not overfly uninvolved people;
    • Maintain a horizontal distance of 150 m from uninvolved people and urban areas;
    • Maintain flight altitude below 120m above ground level.
    Drone operator registration Yes
    Remote pilot competence
    • Read carefully the user manual
    • Obtain a ‘Proof of completion for online training’ for A1/A3 ‘open’ subcategory by:
      • Completing the online training 
      • Passing the online theoretical exam
    Remote pilot minimum age 16*
  • Privately built and drones placed on the market before 01/01/2024 (under 25 kg)

    Subcategory A3
    Operational restrictions
    • Must not overfly uninvolved people;
    • Maintain a horizontal distance of 150 m from uninvolved people and urban areas;
    • Maintain flight altitude below 120m above ground level.
    Drone operator registration Yes
    Remote pilot competence
    • Read carefully the user manual
    • Obtain a ‘Proof of completion for online training’ for A1/A3 ‘open’ subcategory by:
      • Completing the online training 
      • Passing the online theoretical exam
    Remote pilot minimum age 16*

‘Open’ category using drones with a class identification label

* A State may lower the remote pilot minimum age to 12. In that case, the lowered age limit will apply only in that State.

You are invited to consult the Provisions applicable to both ‘open’ and ‘specific’ category FAQs  as well as Understanding the ‘open’ category FAQs for more details. These FAQs take you through all the steps you need to take to be fully compliant and help you identify the regulations that are applicable to the drone operations you intend to conduct.

For all our amateur drone pilots, Paul and his new drone Donnie will help you see how easy it is to become a safe and responsible drone pilot.

Remote identification

Starting from 1 January 2024, all drones operating in the open category (with limited exceptions) need to be equipped with a remote identification system. Some companies have already placed on the market modules providing a direct remote identification system, providing the ‘EU Declaration of Conformity’ and you can find a list below. Please be aware that EASA did not verify the compliance of such components and the declaration of conformity is submitted under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer.

EU Declaration of Conformity list

Manufacturer

Name of the module

Function

Website link

EU Declaration of Conformity

Aerobits idME Direct remote identification idME (Remote ID) - FCC Certificate – AEROBITS MoC_eu_idme.pdf (aerobits.pl)
Aerobits idME+ Direct remote identification idME+ (Remote ID) - FCC Certificate – AEROBITS MoC_eu_idmeplus.pdf (aerobits.pl)
Aerobits idME Pro Direct remote identification

idME PRO (Remote ID) - FCC Certificate (aerobits.pl)

MoC_eu_idmepro.pdf (aerobits.pl)
Bluemark DB120 Direct remote identification DroneBeacon Battery - Remote ID transponder (dronescout.co) EU Declaration of Compliance (dronescout.co)
Bluemark DB121 Direct remote identification DroneBeacon db121 Remote ID transponder (dronescout.co) EU Declaration of Compliance (dronescout.co)
Bluemark
 
DB121pcb Direct remote identification DroneBeacon db121 Remote ID transponder (dronescout.co) EU Declaration of Compliance (dronescout.co)
Bluemark
 
DB121fpv Direct remote identification DroneBeacon FVP - Remote ID transponder (dronescout.co) EU Declaration of Compliance (dronescout.co)
Dronetag BS Direct remote identification Dronetag BS – Bare minimum for Remote ID | Direct / Broadcast RID device | Remote ID solution for aeromodelers · Dronetag Downloads | Dronetag Help
Dronetag Beacon Direct remote identification Dronetag Beacon · Dronetag Downloads | Dronetag Help
Dronetag Mini Direct remote identification Dronetag Mini · Dronetag Downloads | Dronetag Help
FLARM ATOM UAV Direct remote identification Atom UAV – FLARM for Drones | FLARM Technology Declaration of Compliance
FLARM Aurora Direct remote identification Aurora | FLARM Technology Declaration of Compliance