National transitional period for drone operations ends 31 December 2021 – how should I operate in the future?

The national transitional period for drone operations will end at the end of this year. From the beginning of next year, all companies performing aerial work with unmanned aircraft must fully comply with the provisions of the EU Drone Regulation. In the future, when planning a drone operation, always consider whether you could adapt your operation so that you could follow the rules of the ‘open’ category.

The transitional period laid down in the national Regulation OPS M1-32 will end at the end of 2021. As from 1 January 2022, all companies performing aerial work with unmanned aircraft will have to fully comply with the EU Drone Regulation. In practice, this means that after the end of this year, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom’s Regulation OPS M1-32 will only apply to members of model aircraft clubs and national exemptions will no longer be granted to operators performing aerial work. 

In the future, when you are planning a drone operation, always consider whether you could adapt your operation so that you could follow the rules of the ‘open’ category. If not, the operation requires an authorisation regardless of whether it is for recreational, private or business purposes. For example, flying a drone at a height greater than 120 metres or beyond visual line of sight will require an operational authorisation in the ‘specific’ category. 

Read more about operations in the ‘specific’ category and applying for an operational authorisation (in Finnish) 

Read more about the rules applied to the ‘open’ category (in Finnish).  

 

Enquiries:

rpas@traficom.fi