Applying for an operating license or extension for drone flights with a higher risk ("special" category)

You may fly a drone without prior permission if you meet the relevant requirements. However, if the operation poses an increased risk to bystanders, you must apply for an operating permit in advance.

The operation of unmanned aircraft (UAS - Unmanned Aircraft System) is divided into 3 categories:

• "open"
• "special"
• "subject to authorization"

The grading of the individual categories is based on the respective operational risk or the maximum possible personal injury. If you want to operate a UAS in the "open" category, this represents the lowest operating risk. You can fly your drone without prior approval. The prerequisite is that you comply with the necessary rules for operation, such as proof of competence or safety requirements.

Operation in the "special" category
If you are unable to comply with the conditions of the "open" operating category, a UAS operation will be assigned to the categories requiring approval.

You must therefore obtain a permit before commencing flight operations in the "special" and "subject to approval" operating categories. Approvals for the category "subject to approval" are the responsibility of the Federal Aviation Office.

You can check in advance which category your operation falls into based on your own risk assessment. For example, if your aircraft has a take-off mass of more than 25 kilograms or is intended to drop objects, you will need an operating permit.

You should draw up a rough operating concept before operation. The following questions are relevant:

• Where should your UAS fly (ground and air area)?
• How high should it fly?
• How should it be flown? Within visual line of sight (VLOS - "Visual Line of Sight") or beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS - "Beyond Visual Line of Sight")?
• Which UAS do you want to fly with?
  

Regional Council Kassel
Darmstadt Regional Council

Regional Council Kassel
Darmstadt Regional Council

• Main application: Application for an operating license in the "special" category in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2019/947
• Proof of air liability insurance
• Proof of competence according to A2 or higher
• Operations manual (ConOps)
• SORA risk assessment (SORA - Specific Operations Risk Assessment)
• If necessary, further documents such as permits:
  • for entry into geographical areas
  • for flights in control zones
  • for dropping objects
    

You are at least 16 years old.
You own

• a registered unmanned aircraft and want to fly it,
• adequate air liability insurance,
• the certificates of competence,
• the documents that may be required,
• operating manual (ConOps),
• SORA risk assessment (SORA - Specific Operations Risk Assessment).
  

Action before the administrative court

If an operating permit is required, you can apply for this directly online.
Once the application, your SORA and your operating concept have been successfully reviewed, you will receive the permit in the form of a written decision. If errors and the need for adjustments are identified during the review process, you will be informed of these and given a reasonable period of time to rectify them. You then resubmit the amended documents for review.

Optionally, you can arrange a meeting after the SORA has been drawn up to have the SORA checked and to clarify further procedural steps.

There is no deadline.

The processing time depends on the scope of the planned operation and the structure of the documents submitted.

Administrative fine from 200,00 EUR to 2.000,00 EUR

If you already have an existing operating license and you want to add another UAS or flight area, you can apply to extend your existing operating license using the online service.

The following information is available:
If you already have an existing operating license and you want to add another UAS or flight area, you can apply to extend your existing operating license using the online service.