Drone Regulation in France
For your information, two new decrees " drones " of December 17, 2015 replace the arrested April 11, 2012 .
Following feedback from state services and operators, various regulatory changes have emerged as necessary.
The major regulatory principles remain the same. The main regulatory developments regarding specific activities are:
The scope of certain pre-defined operational scenarios is extended:
-
S1 : extension 100 to 200m distance of the pilot
-
S2 : 150m extension of the maximum working height for aircraft under 2kg
-
S3 : the extension of 4 to 8 kg total non- captive aircraft subject to additional conditions applicable to third protective device ( safety gear ) and a distance away potentially greater than 30m third
-
S3 : extension from 4 to 25 kg maximum mass of captives aerodynes and 150 kg for all captive aircraft subject to additional technical conditions to be defined case by case .
-
The distance expulsion of third floor currently 30m is reduced : For aircraft equipped with a safety parachute and aircraft of 2kg or less used at a height of less than 50 meters , it is replaced by a minimum distance function the speed and height of operations (corresponding to the fall of the drone in case of total loss of motor and non-release of the parachute ) . This minimum distance can not be less than 10 meters and is capped at 30 m for aircraft of less than 4kg (maintaining the current value) .
Various approaches are simplified :
-
Tethered balloons used at a height of less than 50 meters with a payload of a mass less than or equal to 1 kg are not subject to the obligations of the order
-
Aircraft operating within confined spaces and cutlery are not subject to the obligations of the order;
-
Remove the MAP deposit requirement with authority , replaced by an obligation of activity statements , the validity of which is limited to 24 months. As part of the S-4 scenario, each mission or set of tasks is subject to the prior approval of the authority;
-
Removal of the requirement of writing a MAP for captive aerostats 25kg or less. The relevant operators are however required to declare their activity
-
S3 : removing the requirement for specific authorization (or design certificate ) for captive aerostats and all aircraft of 2kg or less
-
Removing the requirement of annual renewal of the airworthiness document for aircraft of more than 25kg , in return for an annual declaration of fitness to fly to join the annual report of activities of the operator
-
Reunification under the single concept of " design certificate " of " airworthiness document / flight authorization " which was previously required for aircraft of more than 25 kg and "special permits " that were required for the scenarios S2, S3 et S4.
-
The official authorization for flights over populated areas is replaced by a prior declaration requirement.
-
The terms of developments in civil controlled airspace are simplified :
-
Developments for under 50m are no longer subject to the agreement of the body that makes the service control , but it still required for developments to over 50m ; requirements for developments near the landing and take-off facilities are however retained (Annex I)
-
The text introduces the possibility of evolution outside controlled airspace to subject the establishment of a protocol agreement between the responsible activity and air traffic control organization.
-
Developments controlled airspace managed by the Defence: the terms are unchanged , developments remain subject to the prior approval of the organization and the establishment of a protocol.
-
The text establishes a flight notification requirement for unmanned aircraft used in the context of a particular activity or experiment . This requirement applies :
-
to all flights out of sight, and
-
to all flights performed for over 50 m within the training area in very low altitude defense (SETBA , VOLTAC etc .. ) when assets (excluding weekends and holidays).
The possibility of night flights on departure of the prefect after consulting the CASD -IR is introduced as well as the possibility of segregation of other activities that a segregation area.
The text clarifies certain technical requirements and introduces a new requirement for flight " out of sight " in the context of scenarios S2 and S4 , the interrupt control of the flight in an emergency must function even in case of failure of embedded automation control the trajectory ( ability to manually stop a scheduled flight plan in case of failure of the automation ) .
Official documents to download:
Two texts of 17 December 2015 therefore now define the rules for the use of drones:
- A decree on the design, operating conditions and qualifications for Unmanned
- A decree on the conditions for inclusion in the airspace