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Operations subject to authorisation in the ‘specific’ category

When planning a drone operation, you should always consider whether the operation could be adapted so that you could operate in accordance with the rules set for the ‘open’ category. If this is not possible, the operation is subject to authorisation regardless of whether the operation falls under hobby, private or commercial activities. Below you will find instructions on how to apply for an operational authorisation for the ‘specific’ category.

You can apply for an operational authorisation in the ‘specific’ category based either on a predefined risk assessment (PDRA) published by EASA or your own specific operations risk assessment (SORA). Before that, click on the following link to check whether you will be able to adjust your operations to meet the requirements of the 'open' category . 

Operators in the ‘specific’ category must always be registered  and the registration period must be valid during the operation.

THE EASA REGULATION AND THE RELATED GUIDANCE MATERIAL

Link to the EASA regulation and the related guidance material (External link)

OPERATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARD SCENARIOS (STS) POSSIBLE AS OF 2 DECEMBER 2023

Operation in the ‘specific’ category can also comply with the standard scenarios published by EASA. Devices required for use in accordance with the standard scenario (drones marked with class identification labels C5 and C6) are not on the market yet, however. As a result, the regulation specifies that UAS operators may only submit standard scenario declarations starting from 2 December 2023.

LUC OPERATOR CERTIFICATE

An operator in the ‘specific’ category may apply for a Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC operator certificate). However, this requires experience in operating in the ‘specific’ category, a mature organisational management system and completing several operational authorisation processes. 

THE ‘CERTIFIED’ CATEGORY

Any operation will be classified as ’certified’ when the operation in question involves

  • the transport of people
  • the carriage of dangerous goods
  • flying over assemblies of people using larger unmanned aircraft systems ( >3 m )
  • an inability to mitigate the risk sufficiently based on the SORA risk assessment.

The requirements of the Drone Regulation for the certified category will be completed gradually.