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A new craze that has recently swept the world is drones. Although they can be a bit pricey, once you have one, it’s guaranteed to be a lot of fun. The simple idea of navigating a flying vehicle is enjoyable enough but this enjoyment can be added to with the ability to take amazing videos and photos of beautiful landscapes all with a birds-eye view. However, with the fun of drones comes a lot of rules and responsibility. Each country has its own rules for the use of drones. These rules can prohibit people from flying drones in specific areas as well as adding a requirement that drone flyers hold a license. Today we will look at the rules on flying your drone in Spain and what drone operators can and can’t do. It’s not rare to see drones being used in Spain but any using one must follow the guidelines.
Spain Drone Laws
The laws on drone flying are set by the Spanish Agency for Aviation Safety. Originally, these rules only took into account those flying drones professionally and didn’t cover those doing it for fun. To professionally fly a drone in Spain, you will require a drone license. To get this, you will also need to be a registered drone operator with the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency. In addition to this, for drones up to 25 kg in weight, you will need to have a LAPL class medical certificate. If your drone weighs more than 25 kg then you will require a Class II certificate from RPAS. Thankfully, if you are flying a drone recreationally, you do not require anything other than some basic piloting skills. It is important to note that the maximum drone weight for recreational flight is 2 kg.
Recreational Flights
However, there are a few guidelines regarding recreational flight. For example, the drone must never go above 120 m and the drone should always be able to be seen my it’s pilot. Furthermore, no drone should be operated within 8 km of an airport, aerodrome or any other area which has a restricted aircraft space. Liability insurance is not necessary for recreational drone operators however it is good to know that the operator is responsible for any damage the drone may cause. In addition, it is compulsory that a drone has a fireproof identification plate. On this, you should be able to find the model and the serial number of the drone as well as the name of the manufacturer. Also, this plate should contain the contact details of the drone operator. Lastly, you should always make sure you respect other people’s right to privacy in regards to anyone who may be videoed or photographed by your drone.
Flying a Professional Drone in Spain
If you are the operator of a professional drone, there are, of course, a separate set of rules you must also follow. This includes the fact that you must be registered nationally and have both a Type Certificate as well as a Certificate of Airworthiness. You must also hold a national drone pilot certificate. In addition, you should have third-party liability insurance with coverage up to €1 million. In regards to what you shouldn’t do, you shouldn’t use your during the night or when it’s dark or fly more than 400 ft from the ground. Also, you shouldn’t fly your drone in clouds, above crowds, in urban areas, in industrial estates or any other restricted areas such as airports.
Where to Fly your Drone in Spain
Pyrenees
Being such a beautiful country, Spain has various places that are brilliant for drone flying! One of these incredible places is the Pyrenees mountain range. The mountain range has an overall length of more than 430 km crossing through Spain, France and the smaller country of Andorra. The highest point of the mountain rises to 3,400 m. Separating the Iberian peninsula from the rest of Europe, you are sure to get some stunning, snow-filled shots from the sky above the Pyrenees. There are many skiing resorts and national parks that can also be found in the Pyrenees.
Sierra Nevada
Sticking with the mountain ranges, you may wish to take your drone to the Sierra Nevada mountain range which takes into account the Spanish provinces of Granada, Almeria and Malaga. Also, Sierra Nevada is home to the highest point in Spain, Mulhacen, which is 3,478 above sea level. Found in the Andalucia region of the country, Sierra Nevada is also home to some ski resorts and a national park. There are more than 20 peaks to explore with your drone, getting some brilliant shots of the amazing landscape.
Aqueduct of Segovia
Lastly, we have the Aqueduct of Segovia. This elevated, historical structure is one of the best-preserved Roman structures in the world. The structure has a total length of 813 m and a height of 28 m. If you don’t fancy hiking up the large mountain ranges that have been previously mentioned then the Aqueduct of Segovia is a brilliant option for an area to fly your drone. Found in the old city, there are also plenty of facilities around such as toilets, restaurants and bars.
Of course, other than the restrictions mentioned, you can fly your drone in any area of the beautiful country that is Spain. Just be sure to follow the rules and have a good level of common sense, Drone flying will be great fun as long as you follow the rules. Lastly, enjoy! You are sure to get some amazing shots of the excellent and diverse landscape!
If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about Flying a Drone in Portugal and Flying a Drone in Mexico.