Who doesn’t like to fly a drone? If we were to go back 40 years ago, this idea would be impossible, today, thanks to the advancement of technology, it is possible. But with every action comes a responsibility. This is why there are more and more laws restricting the freedom to fly a drone, hence the new drone regulations of 2022, which regulate the necessary licences and which drones are subject to the regulations.
New drone law in Spain 2022
The body in charge of regulating the laws for the use of drones is the State Agency for Aviation Safety (AESA), which has passed a law on 1 January 2022. This new law has been created since the old regulation of 2017 did not take into consideration professional drone flights or flights for entertainment purposes.
One of the big changes in this European drone regulation for 2022 has been to make no distinction between leisure and work drone use. There is a variation regarding drone flights that are out of the pilot’s line of sight. The fact of flying without seeing the drone means that there is the possibility of risks. The new law therefore requires pilots with a drone weighing 2kg or more to install a tracking system that allows them to locate other drones and avoid them.
To understand the 2022 drone regulation as a whole, we must also be aware of the limitations of the 2017 drone law, which is in force until 1 January 2022 but annexed to the new 2022 law. In other words, it also includes the rights and obligations stipulated in the 2017 drone law:
- It is not allowed to fly over urban areas.
- The drone must be insured.
- You cannot fly over crowds of people (unless you have a special permit).
- You can only fly in uncontrolled airspace.
- Must be within a radius of more than 8km from an airport.
- Can only be used during daylight hours when conditions are favourable.
But the new regulations do not stop there, there is a new limitation; for any type of drone weighing more than 250 grams, it is compulsory to obtain a certificate certifying that you have some basic knowledge. We will explain this in more detail below.
At HPDRONES we are aware of the current regulations, which is why we offer some drones with a weight of less than 250 grams, such as the DJI Mini 2.
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Is a licence required to fly a drone under the 2022 drone regulations?
As mentioned above, a licence is required unless you own a drone weighing less than 250 grams, regardless of the purpose for which it is used.
Certification is obtained at specialised academies or from the AESA itself, with an estimated duration of one month, but this may vary depending on the user’s specialisation. To obtain this certificate, it is necessary to be authorised and checked by AESA.
Course to be able to fly your drone safely and professionally.
At HPDRONES we not only sell high quality drones, but we also offer our customers the different certificates and specialisations to be able to fly all kinds of drones and carry out the multiple actions you want. Below we offer you the three most demanded courses:
- UAV pilot course: This course offers the knowledge to fly unmanned vehicles, the different ways of operating, carrying out maintenance, preparing a mission or how to carry out practical exercises with any drone.
- Aerial photography course: In this training you will learn the skills to carry out drone photography, from camera settings, light or colours to the composition of aerial photographs and videos.
- Search and rescue course: This course will teach you notions of current legislation, basic knowledge of UAVs, search and rescue methods, aerial reconnaissance or first aid and survival techniques, among others.
Don’t miss this opportunity and become a professional!
Main limitations for flying drones in Spain in 2022
We have previously commented on the main limitations that existed before the new drone regulations in 2022, now we will comment on all those restrictions that you should be aware of:
- The pilot must maintain visual range with the drone, otherwise, as explained above, a tracking system must be installed to avoid possible accidents.
- The drone may not exceed 120 metres above the ground during flight.
- The unmanned vehicle may not approach closer than 8 km from any controlled airspace.
- The drone must have a fireproof identification plate with serial number, model, manufacturer and pilot contact details.
- It is necessary to comply with the Data Protection Law in force, privacy must be respected, and therefore, it is forbidden to disclose images that record the recording or photographs of people without their prior authorisation.
- The drone may not be flown at night or in low visibility.
- It may only be used during the day when weather conditions are favourable.
- The drone must be insured.
- The drone may not be flown in urban areas or crowds of people, unless you have a special permit.
Does the drone have to be registered under the 2022 drone regulations?
Since the entry into force of the new 2022 drone regulations, all persons who are going to use a drone, regardless of the purpose for which it is used, must register with AESA in order to obtain a unique registration number, which must be on the fireproof identification plate and this identifier must also be loaded into the remote identification system.
It is not necessary to register with AESA if you have a drone weighing less than 250 grams and which does not have a camera.
What is the legislation for drones under 250 grams?
The law is less rigid with this type of drone, but they have similar limitations to normal drones:
- You can fly the unmanned vehicle over urban areas, buildings or crowds of people, but their maximum allowed height is 20 metres.
- In case the drone contains a camera, the Data Protection Act and the privacy of individuals must be respected.
- The drone may not fly over wildlife conservation areas, parks or national reserves, unless it has a special licence.
- It may not be flown within a radius of less than 8 km over controlled airspace.
What are the permitted areas for flying drones?
There are areas where drones are allowed to fly, others are subject to permits and licences, and others where it is completely prohibited.
To find out in which areas you are allowed to fly drones at all times, please consult the lcarusRPA website.
The world of drones is booming, there are more and more different uses for these unmanned vehicles and as we have mentioned before, this brings with it a great responsibility. The European Union has already realised this and regulates all these types of activities.
And remember, even if you have a drone weighing less than 250 grams and it is not compulsory to have a licence to fly the drone, it is necessary to be aware of the respective limitations.
