Applying for a simplified operator certificate for unmanned aircraft systems (LUC)

If your company is registered with the German Federal Aviation Office as an operator of unmanned aircraft, you can apply for a simplified operator certificate. This entitles you to handle certain approval processes for internal UAS operations independently.

If your organization is registered as an operator of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), you can apply for a simplified operator certificate (LUC) from the LBA. This is known as a Light UAS Operator Certificate.

The LUC entitles your organization to handle certain approval processes, which are normally carried out by an authority, independently within the company. These include, for example, the authorization of operating declarations and the amendment or issuance of operating permits.

Which processes you are allowed to carry out independently with an operator certificate depends on your experience with these processes. The scope of your rights is generally limited at first and can be gradually extended by the LBA.

The LBA is responsible for your application, regardless of the federal state or third country in which your organization is based. In the application, you provide information including

• the desired scope of the LUC approval ("privileges"),
• your previous experience with the approval processes,
• the structure of your management and, in particular, safety management system and
• the appointment of an accountable manager.

If you are applying for an LUC for the first time, you should contact the LBA in advance for a preliminary discussion. This will allow you to clarify questions about relevant experience, among other things.

An LUC is valid indefinitely. However, you can apply to the LBA to have it

• have it suspended,
• change it or
• return it.

Changes to the scope of the LUC approval or the LUC management system must be applied for at the LBA. Changes not requiring approval must be reported to the LBA.

• Application form
• LUC Manual
• Specification of the desired LUC rights
• Evidence of experience with the desired LUC rights, e.g. successfully submitted operating declarations or issued operating licenses
• Evidence of experience with the desired rights
• If applicable: information on the operation with data on the operating area, risk assessment according to a
  • a Predefined Risk Assessment (PDRA) or
  • a Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) Proposal of a timetable for processing the application

If you are applying for a change, the documents required are those relevant to the change.

If the LUC is returned, no documents other than the application form are required.

If you are based outside the EU, you can apply for the LUC online, but must submit the following documents by post or email for authentication:

• Foreign equivalent of a commercial or association register extract,
• a copy of the identity document of an authorized representative and their signature.

• You have an online ID card issued in Germany.
• Your UAS operation is assigned to the "special" operating category.
• You have extensive experience with UAS operations and the associated official application processes.

Contradiction

You can apply for the LUC online.

• Call up the online application on the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de. This will guide you step by step through the necessary information.
• Upload the required documents and submit the application.
• If you are based outside the EU: Send the documents required for authentication to the LBA by post or email.
• The LBA will check your application and arrange dates for audits with you if necessary.
• You will receive
  • a fee notice and
  • an LUC or
  • a rejection notice.
• You pay the fees.

There is no deadline for applying for or changing an LUC.

Fee for issuing an LUC. The fee key of Unit B5 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems provides information on the exact amounts. You will receive a notification with a QR code for payment.: Fee from 2.000,00 EUR to 6.000,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

Fee for changing an LUC. The fee key of Unit B5 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems provides information on the exact amounts. You will receive a notification with a QR code for payment.: Fee from 40,00 EUR to 6.000,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

Fee for the suspension of an LUC. You will receive a notification with a QR code for payment.: Fee 100,00 EUR

Fee for the annual inspection of the LUC holder from the third year onwards. The fee schedule of Unit B5 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems provides information on the exact amounts. You will receive a notification with a QR code for payment.: Fee from 250,00 EUR to 2.500,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

There are no indications or special features.