Limits for flying a drone in Spain: distances, zones and basic rules of the open category

In Spain, when you fly a drone in the open category, the limits depend on the subcategory you fly in. In A1 you cannot fly over people who are not involved in the flight, nor over groups of people. In A2 you only fly drones that carry the C2 class label, and you keep at least 30 metres horizontally from anyone not involved in the flight. In A3 you fly in areas where you put no one at risk, always at least 150 metres horizontally from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas. In practice, A3 rules out the city.

What the open category requires

The open category is the low-risk one. It does not require authorisation or a prior declaration before take-off. It does require other things. The general minimum age is sixteen, although Article 7 of Royal Decree 517/2024 lowers it in some cases. You need insurance that covers every flight you make. A permanent policy is not required. And, depending on the drone you use, you will have to register as an operator on the electronic portal (sede electrónica) of AESA, the state agency that regulates aviation in Spain.

AESA's theory training

Training is also organised by subcategory. For A1 and A3 there is an AESA certificate of theoretical knowledge. The course and the exam are online and free. There are 40 questions in 40 minutes, passing requires 75 % correct answers and you have two attempts. From the moment your enrolment comes through, you have 30 working days to sit the exam. The certificate is valid for 5 years, and you apply to AESA for renewal before it expires.

Illustrative image about flying a drone in Spain.

Practical training and a second exam

For A2 you first need that A1/A3 certificate. Then you declare to AESA that you have completed practical self-training, away from people and at least 150 metres from inhabited areas. After that you take another exam, of 30 questions in 30 minutes.

Light drones and remote identification

With some very light drones, knowing the manufacturer's manual well is enough. Even so, AESA recommends getting the A1/A3. And since 1 January 2024, drones with the C1, C2 and C3 class labels come with a remote identification system as standard.

Beware of 'official' courses

A word of warning about courses. Apart from AESA's A1/A3 training, no course is official or accredited by AESA or by any public body, Spanish or European. If someone sells you one as official, the information is false.

Illustrative image about the rules for flying a drone.

The same rules across Asturias

These rules are the same in Gijón, in any corner of Asturias and in the rest of Spain. A wedding on the coast, a corporate event in a pavilion or a landscape shot for photography and video: the limits do not change with the plan.

How to start flying

Want to fly soon? The easiest way is to start with the A1/A3 course and exam on the AESA website. It is free, done online and you don't need to travel anywhere. Before enrolling, check which class label your drone carries and whether it requires you to register as an operator. AESA has a specific note on drones under 250 grams. Before each flight, check that you have insurance covering it and that you are at the distance your subcategory sets. If a specific question comes up, AESA has a frequently asked questions page and a contact form.

Links

More useful links: seguridadaerea.gob.es, seguridadaerea.gob.es, seguridadaerea.gob.es.