It came into force on June 25, 2024 Spain The new Royal Decree 517/2024, which brings several important changes Use of drones. Below we review it Main changes Citizens who fly drones need to know this, something the National Police recently recalled on its social networks.
Mandatory registration
One of the most notable changes is that all drone pilots will have to Register as operators.Registration is done online on the website of the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) and is valid for two years. Additionally, the individual must physically put the operator number on all his drones to identify them.
minimum age
For this minimum ageTo register as an operator you need to have at least 16 years. However, the minimum age for pilots depends on the type of drone and the flight category. For example, Below 12 years of age They can fly drones in category C0 or those weighing less than 250 grams in open category A1, while they 14 years They can fly C1 category drones in open categories A1 and A2.
Drone Insurance
Another key point is insurance. From now on, all drones that operate in certain categories and are certified must have one civil liability insurance. This also applies to C2 category drones flying in the A2 Open category and drones weighing more than 20 kilograms. On the other hand, lighter drones, such as those weighing less than 250 grams, no longer need to be insured in certain categories.
Communication of urban flights to the Ministry of Internal Affairs
If a drone user wants to fly his device in urban areas, he should do so Inform the Ministry of the Interior about this operation in advance.This should be done with minimal five days ago And Online. The communication must include details such as the name of the operator, the pilot, the aircraft and the exact area where you are going to fly.
The urban environment is considered a population center with buildings, residential, commercial, industrial areas or recreational areas with public access such as beaches or parks.
The area is being examined
You should check the geographical area before flying the drone ENAIRE Drone Website And get advice on the safety distances that must be respected in different places. For example, for roads or railway tracks, the safety distance is set at 25 horizontal meters.
Flights in controlled airspace
There are new rules for flying drones in controlled airspace. Operating within the pilot’s visual range, at a maximum altitude of 60 meters and outside restricted geographic areas does not require coordination with an airport manager. However, if you want to fly at higher altitudes or in protected areas, it will be necessary to coordinate with said manager and meet certain requirements, such as having a radio operator designation or using an air band station.
