January 30th, 2017 – Date of the last modification: February 20, 2017.
You are foreigner and you want to fly a drone in France for recreation purposes or as professionnal. Ensuring people and other aircraft are under your responsibility. For this reason, you should check before if your insurance covers you for your practice in France.
The French authorities for aerial transports (DGAC) propose a summary of the ten rules to use a drone for recreation purposes in France. We propose you the 10 rules, the document as PDF file to download and an interactive aero MAP with a legend to know where to fly as recreation user. As professional drone pilot or operator you could find informations, at the end. When in doubt, ask for more information (contacts list below).
[plain]In France, the improper use of a drone in direct violation of the rules set to ensure safety is liable to one year of imprisonment and to a 75.000 euros (US $ 80.166) fine under Article L. 6232-4 French code of transport. Flying over a restricted or prohibited area with a drone is liable to one year jail, to 45.000 euros (US $ 48.101) fine and to drone confiscation under Articles L. 6232-12 and L 6232-13 code of transport.[/plain]
Fly a drone in France for recreation purposes by French DGAC authorities
Interactive aero MAP and limitations of flying drones in France for recreation purposes
[warning]WARNING:
This interactive aero MAP available online on Geoportail.gouv.fr (IGN) groups together, in a simplified and easily understandable way, the aeras of the French metropolitan territory where flights of drones are subject to prohibitions or restrictions “permanently”. Dedicated to the general public, it therefore constitutes a simplification for those who have not acquired an “aeronautical culture”. “The attention of the users is particularly drawn to private heliports (private helicopter zone) which do not appear in its current version, and the outline of the agglomerations which is provided as an indication. The coverage of overseas regions (DOM-COM) should be proposed subsequently. The integration of restricted areas created temporarily is also being studied”says the DGAC.
In the meantime, to view all areas created temporarily, It is still appropriate to consult the French Aeronautical Information Service website.[/warning]
Specific authorizations for foreign professional drones pilots or operators in France
The aerial pictures market with drones (“activités particulières” in French) is open to foreign drones pilots or operators in France under certain conditions:
Use of drones and regulations in Europe
In Europe, the use of drones is only possible under certain conditions established by law. When you fly a drone, you become de facto users of the airspace. Airspace is a regulated space. To operate your drone, you must therefore obey the aviation rules applicable in the country. The use of a drone equipped with a camera or other sensor might be highly intrusive. You must always respect others privacy and personal data, complying to the applicable regulations. Finally, as operating a drone may represent safety risks, do not forget to comply with your insurance obligations. Dronerules.eu website propose you the european regulations, for drones, by countries, in different languages:
I’ll be visiting France from the United States in May and I think I have all of my documentation in order to fly using my drone license, but I’m confused on 1 thing. On AlphaTango I don’t know what “MAP” (manual for special activities) is or how to fill out the required information. It asks for reference? Please help!
Hi Jason,
Welcome in France. We are today in a transition period from national air regulations for UAS to common European regulations in the future. For a remote pilot from a country outside the European Economic Area:
The MAP no longer exists today.
It has been replaced by MANEX, which is the UAS operator’s operations manual, with a similar outline in all European members states and only for Specific UAS category.
The first thing to do is to declare yourself as a UAS operator in the first European country where you are going to use a drone whether you are practicing for leisure or professional. In France this declaration is free and must be made on the AlphaTango platform of the DGAC:
https://alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr
Article in French on the blog of our online store on the sale of safety equipment for drones that I published in French and giving advice on how to declare yourself as an UAS operator on AlphaTango:
https://www.safety-drone.shop/2020/12/15/europe-et-nouvelle-declaration-comme-exploitant-uas-drones-loisir-et-pro/
If your drone weighs more than 800 g at takeoff, you must also register it on the same platform. In leisure, above 800 g, you must follow this online training and free exam in the form of multiple choice questions. It is possible in English.
Fox AlphaTango in english:
https://fox-alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/?lang=en.
Then your UAS operator declaration is valid throughout Europe. Even if there is a common policy and regulation in Europe, each European regulation is transposed in each member state with sometimes certain nuances in terms of local application depending on the country. Indeed, the regulations are complex even for a French remote pilots 😉
There are also restricted aerial areas or areas limited in height, prohibited areas for taking pictures…or also military aircraft doing exercises and flying very low….Have a look the map here.
Chart of restricted areas for recreational UAS and open category:
https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/donnees/restrictions-uas-categorie-ouverte-et-aeromodelisme
Aeronautical Information Service (SIA) website:https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr
The best thing would be to get in touch with the DSAC, that is the regional office of the DGAC where you will operate in France that depending the aera.
You will find the DSAC local coordinates from this PDF document with this link:
https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/Contacts_drones_DSAC_IR.pdf
DGAC website: UAS – Open category:
https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/exploitation-drones-en-categorie-ouverte
DGAC website : UAS – Specific category
https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/exploitation-drones-en-categorie-specifique
I hope I have done you documented and detailed response to a request that is complex with European and French regulations.
Have good drone flights in a safe way in France and enjoy your stay,
Denis JEANT
Is it a requirement that the drone pilot speak French if they have a spotter that speaks French in case of emergency? One of the new forms asks that the pilot certify their French language skills.
Hi,
For safety, it seems to be important to speak the language of the country, especially if onlookers approach the drone flight area.
On the other hand, indeed a spotter could take care of this subject. On the other hand, the problem will be above all to be understood and to comply with aviation regulations. In effect, for a remote pilot from a country outside the European Economic Area:
Have a nice flights and stay in France.
I live in the US but will be visiting France next week. I would like to fly my DJI Mavic Air which weighs 430grams to shoot video and stills of the area where my family lived in France prior to the late 1600s. I have checked the maps and it is in an area that is legal to fly. Do I need liability insurance and if so do you know where I could obtain coverage for the couple of days that I will be there? I would hate to be required to buy a year long policy. Thanks.
Hi Ed,
It is unfortunately very difficult to insure you in France for less than one year for civil liability. Probably the easiest will be to hear the territoriality of your US insurance for Europe or France. Have a nice flights and stay in France.
Hi Denis,
Currently I live in France, Lyon and although I speak French, I still do not know if my level is good enough to do my training in french to become a professional drone pilot. Do you know if it is possible to do the “Formation pilote de dorne” in France in english? To be more precise in Lyon.
Thanks in advance for your reply.
All the best,
Maciej
Hi Maciej,
The presentation in French of the new professional drones pilot trainings and state examinations in France is detailed on this page. Follow this link:
https://aerophoto-drones.bzh/2018/02/06/nouvelles-formations-telepilotes-drones/
For practical training, I think it would not be a problem if the drones pilots instructor is a bilingual minimum (French / English). On the other hand, for the theory it is about a state examination organized by the DGAC (French air transport regulation organization) and all the questions with multiple choices are in French and in a limited time. Therefore, a minimum of understanding of French is essential. By cons, I have a customer from my online store (http://www.safety-drone.shop) native of the United Kingdom (UK), located in the south-west of France, who passed his exam in French and who is even installed as professional drone operator and pilot in France, in the region where he live.
If you give me your contact details through the contact page and if he agrees, I can put you in touch: https://aerophoto-drones.bzh/contact/
Otherwise, I also know quality drones pilots instructors in the Lyon area. On the other hand, I do not know if they would be able and if they would like to conduct a practical training in English. All the best and good flights
Hi
I am not flying a drone as such but I will be flying model aircraft and gliders in France this summer 2019 .
Please can you tell me do I have to register to fly them . My Models are all under the 20kg and not flown commercially.
I have B.M.F.A. and L.M.A. insurance.
Thank you with regards
I van Jordan
Hi Ivan,
Airplane and glider models are considered as remotely piloted aircrafts (drones or UAV) and more precisely aeromodel or recreational models aircrafts. Therefore, the French regulation related to the drone applies. You must register your aeromodels over 800 g on this website in English from French regulation agency (DGAC) like FAA in US: https://alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr and pass a small online test that is possible in English on this site from French regulation agency (DGAC): https://fox-alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/en/ For your insurance, please check with your insurer that it applies in the French territory and that it covers injuries and material damages that you can create to other people. Welcome and good flights in France
Hello Denis 🙂 I am wondering if you can help. I watched all the videos on the AlphaTango site and did the little mini tests.The box to take my test online is still not available. When I try to access the test, it just keeps saying error. Is there a trick to accessing the test?
Also quick question about YouTubing videos taken with a drone. Could you please let me know what the process would be to obtain a professional drone license and a permit to take pictures and videos for publication? I am not sure what would be required. We live in Vannes. Thank you so much!
Hello Petra,
AlphaTango test is only for leasure practice with drone, not professional use. If there is a problem with the use of the AlphaTango portal, for which you have not found a solution in the online help, you can contact Technical Support at: assistance-alphatango@aviation-civile.gouv.fr. To become professional drone pilot in France you could read this article, in French, on my blog: https://aerophoto-drones.bzh/2018/02/06/nouvelles-formations-telepilotes-drones/. To exploit aerial pictures as professional, in France, you can read this other article published in French on my blog too:https://aerophoto-drones.bzh/2017/04/11/prises-de-vues-aeriennes-et-reglementation-en-france/ We are neighbors, since we live in Morbihan (56). The more simple might be to call me by phone. Have a look to my cell. phone number on the contact page: https://aerophoto-drones.bzh/contact/ Have good fights,
Hello, I am having quite a few problems passing the new french online drone test. Some of the questions seem quite difficult. Is there anywhere I can get some help with the answers?
Hello Tim,
You could find free videos tutorial as MOOC, in english, on FOX ALPHATANGO, the French DGAC authority training space:
https://fox-alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/en/
I quote the page:
Do you want to take the exam for you ? What interest for you ? It is not us who will fly your drone and who will have to assume the risks and responsibility related to its use. I am sure you will get there with effort and work. Normally, it’s pretty simple.
Good luck. Come and tell us your feedback when you have passed your online exam 😉
Hello Denis, thanks so much for this wonderful resource. I used your information to fly my drone as a hobby but now I want to apply for a license to fly for professional purposes. I’ve looked at the incredibly useful links you’ve provided but I have a question I hoped you might help with! I’m learning French but currently it’s still not very good! Do you know of anyone in my position who has been able to pass the tests by using translation software during the theoretical part – and have found trainers who speak English for the practical training part?
Thanks so much for your time.
Best regards,
Gwyn : )
Hello Williams,
Thank you for your encouragement
Please, contact the DSAC authority, which depends on your place of residence in France. You will find the coordinates in this PDF document:
https://aerophoto-drones.bzh/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/contacts_dsac_ir-juillet2016.pdf
If you can write your message of contact in English then in French even approximate, if not only in English.
My proposed article, on this page, is not up to date. Indeed, since the end of December 2018, to practice drone as recreational in France, you must create an account (free) on the official French AlphaTango DGAC portail, pass a mandatory online test in the form of multiple choice questions (free) if your drone is more than 800 grams (take-off weight) and also declare your drone of more than 800 grams (take-off weight), to obtain a registration number required (free). Official French DGAC AlphaTango portail is in French and English (Choose English on the footer of the website, on the right): https://alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr
I can not tell you if the online exam can be passed in English. The questions are simple. You can try again several times. The free training since AlphaTango is as a MOOC, with online videos in French, to learn.
The registration number must be affixed to your drone and you must hold in electronic PDF document (smartphone or tablet) or paper form the corresponding document that you retrieve in PDF format from your AlphaTango created account.
You can buy a small personalized plate to put the registration number on your drone, as provided by French regulations, at this address: https://www.safety-drone.shop/boutique-en-ligne/accessoires-pour-drones/plaquette-numero-enregistrement-drone-personnalisee/
Same thing for your exam. In case of control on the ground, when you practice the drone, you must be able to present them to the French police.
In addition to the previous regulations, professional drones operators in France, must also create an account on AlphaTango portal and must declare themselves to the French authority (DGAC) before starting their professional activity, even if their drone is less than 800 grams, but also declare all of their drones on AlphaTango portal.
Have a nice stay and flights in France, Best regards,
Hello Denis – thank you very much for your reply and all this additional information. That’s really useful to have the updated information on recreational flying too – I’ll create an account straight away and register the drone.
Thanks again and best regards,
Gwyn
Hello,
We are planning to go to Paris on June 2019.
We would like to check on how to get a drone permit for personal use on flying a drone.
Our drone is around 750 grams in weight and model is DJI Mavic Pro.
Thank you very much.
Hello,
As already mentioned in the comments on this page the flights over Paris and its region (red aera) are strictly forbidden, apart from the professional drones operators who are declared to the French regulatory authority (DGAC).
They must also first make a declaration to the police authorities, to be able to operate legally, with many security and safety constraints to be respected.
It’s complicated for them. Today fly with a drone in a prohibited area overflight as Paris is an offense punishable by a court, with even jail as the case may be, whether French or foreign pilots.
Sorry but it is valid regardless of the weight of the drone (less of 800 g too), except inside a building closed like gymnasium, hangar, garage, depot… where drones regulation does not apply.
The French authorities do not laugh with security in Paris, especially since the terrorist attacks.There are many interesting things to do in Paris. Have a nice stay in France.
Hi! Planning to visit Paris next week. Would it be possible for me to get authorization to fly (recreational) within a week? Thank you in advance.
Hi Steven,
It’s forbiden to fly with a drone in Paris. Only the professional drones operators declared to the French regulatory authority (DGAC) which depends on the French ministry of Transport can do so. Today it is an offense punishable by the court to fly to Paris for leisure or as a professional operator without declaration and authorization … And even for professional drones operators declared to the authority it is far from simple. They must make a statement to the Paris police headquarters, with guarantees in terms of security and safety.
I do not recommend doing this to avoid problems.
For example, you can fly into the Generali captive balloon located at André Citroën park in Paris (15th district) to take pictures at 150 meters above land level to see Paris from the sky 😉 Flights schedule is from 9 am until 30 minutes before the closing of the André Citroën park. Price: Adult: € 12; children 3-11 years: 6 €; children under 3 years: free. It is best to contact the organizers of balloon flights before:
Ballon Generali, Parc André Citroën, 75015 Paris, Office Phone: +33 1 44 26 20 00, aeroparis@aerophile.com, https://www.ballondeparis.com/en/
You can also climb to the top of the Montparnasse tower and the Effeil tower in Paris, to take pictures from high points accessible as pedestrians.
If you are too addicting drone piloting, you can also fly in an indoor drone space in Paris. It is authorized, because the French aerial regulations do not apply for inside a closed place. You can do it in this closed and adapted place to pilot a drone indoor:
Drone indoor, 9 avenue de la Porte de Choisy, Paris (13th discrit), Cell. Phone: +33 6 29 86 23 79, contact@droneindoor.com, https://droneindoor.fr/
To book a session of FPV flights with drones: https://droneindoor.fr/grand-public/
Have a nice trip at Paris and in France,
Denis,
Apologises for writing in English but my French is poor (despite trying to learn it every week !).
I live in the Charente (16) and I have flown drones for a while. I got my CA license in the UK for flying drones a couple of years ago which I was led to believe is a world wide authority.
I have liability insurance, I have telephone number written on the drones etc., but now the new laws are coming in, I am struggling to find out where/how to register the drones as I would like to be legal.
Do you have any idea’s ? I did try to follow the link above but struggling to find the information.
Thanks in advance
Hello Terry,
No problem. I understand well.
First, should I be told if aerial photography or video is strictly personal or to broadcast more widely and possibly make commercial use of it ?
In the second case, we are in the professional field called “Activités particulières” (special activities in English) and need to be declared as professional drones operator and pilot to the French regulation authority which is the DGAC (depends on the French Ministry of Transport).
You can try to translate with Google translate tool, in English, an article that I updated in French on my blog and which speaks of the new education for professional drones pilots in application since July 1st, 2018 at this address: https://aerophoto-drones.bzh/2018/02/06/nouvelles-formations-telepilotes-drones
I quote and translate the part that interests us:
For more informations, please, get in touch with the DSAC/SO authority in your “Nouvelle-Aquitaine” district at this email address:
dsacso-opa-tra-bf@aviation-civile.gouv.fr
Informations in French, by French DGAC authority, for recreation drones in France are at this address:
https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/formation-telepilotes-loisir-0
Informations in French, by French DGAC authority, for professional UAVs operators or pilots in France are at this address:
https://www.ecologique-solidaire.gouv.fr/drones-usages-professionnels
I hope that I respond to your expectations by helping you on the subject ?
Have good flights
Where can I apply the drone permit?
I am from Hong Kong and I would like to fly the drone in Attrap’Rêves
Allauch. That is not for the business ,just for the hobbits and public
on youtube.
Hello,
Today there is no permit or licence to fly with a drone for recreational use, but you will need one from next September 2018, beyond 800 grams (1,7637 lbs), however, you must respect the French aerial regulations about drones and in particular do not fly in cities or towns, beachs, close to airports, heliports, roads, highways, prisons, military zones … It is important to find out about aeronautical informations because there are temporary restricted aerial areas or temporary prohibited aerial areas, or temporary danger areas (ZRT, ZIT, ZDT …).
French aeronautical information in english:
https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/documents/supaip/aip/id/6
If it’s for a professional use and public use like Youtuber or others business, you need to be professional drone pilot with a licence and permit to take pictures & videos
Have good flights
so I can’t fly on beaches? even if on the map it shows you can? i’m confused…
Hello Chris,
That depends the place, the number of people on the beach, your status (leisure or professional drone operator declared to the French DGAC authorities) and authorizations. For example, I live in an island (Belle-ile-en-mer) off Quiberon harbor, in French South Brittany, Morbihan (56). It’s forbiden to fly with a drone on the Atlantic sea, where I live for leisure (red aerial zone). As professional drone operator declared to the French DGAC authorities (French ministry of transport) and following a strict protocol, after authorization from the French Naval Air Authorities and DGAC (to practice aerial captures with camera), and with professional aviation liability insurance (insurance cover of at least 1 million euros), I can fly with my drone in this dangerous air zone (LF-D18A) where military aircraft (Falcon 50M, Atlantic II, helicopters..) regularly fly for surveillance and rescue at sea.
If you consult this official aerial map on the restrictions of flights for leisure drones, you will find that with rare exceptions, all the Atlantic aerial zone is in red on the aerial map. It’s forbiden to fly over with leisure drones for the same reason or as professional without authorization from French Naval Air Authorities: https://www.geoportail.gouv.fr/donnees/restrictions-pour-drones-de-loisir