Fly a drone in France for foreigners and regulations

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

[su_spoiler title=”Download this document: Use of drone for recreation purposes, of 2 pages as PDF file” open=”yes” style=”fancy” icon=”caret-square”]116 KBNotice_drone_VF_GB_web-2[/su_spoiler]

Interactive aero map and limitations of flying drones in France for recreation purposes

[su_box title=”” box_color=”#1d4be4″]This interactive aero map below where you can navigate (Use your mouse and the + and -) has been made to facilitate the identification of aeras authorized or not overflying.

[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]

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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:

[su_spoiler title=”Cases for Specific authorizations for foreign professional drones pilots or operators in France” open=”yes” style=”fancy” icon=”caret-square”]

• F1-A.Practice by a foreign professional drones pilot or operator of a drone IN VIEW in a NON-PEOPLE area under S1 scenario;
• F1-B. Practice by a foreign professional drones pilot or operator of a drone IN VIEW in a PEOPLE area under S3 scenario;
• F1-C. Practice by a foreign drone pilot or operator of an out-of-sight drone in a NON-PEOPLE area.

[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”Prerequisites for specific authorizations for foreign professional drones pilots or operators in France” open=”yes” style=”fancy” icon=”caret-square”] The foreign drone pilot or operator must be authorized by its originating authority (National Authority in charge of safety aviation) to carry out similar operations using unmanned aircrafts (drones). In addition, its aircraft must be equipped in accordance with French regulations.[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”CERFA Form: #R5-TAAG-6-F1 (PDF Version of 15 September 2016)” open=”yes” style=”fancy” icon=”caret-square”] 96 KBForm_R5-TAAG-6-F1-AUTSPEC-V0-2[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”Parts to be supplied in addition with the CERFA form” open=”yes” style=”fancy” icon=”caret-square”]

• Document of the authority of the country of the professional drone pilot or operator attesting that the drone pilot is capable of operating an unmanned aircraft (drone);
• Operating manual of the drone (s) used;
• Theoretical aeronautical skills of the drone pilot;
• Professional insurances;
• Place / ground plane (aeronautical map or other);
• Zone of precise evolution of the drone and position of the third parties if necessary  (Map/diagrams …);
• Description of the aircraft (drone) used (document, photos …);
• For the F1-C. case, download the technical file – document technique (S2) and send it to the email address : dsac-nav-drones-bf@aviation-civile.gouv.fr

[/su_spoiler] [su_spoiler title=”Deadlines and recipients” open=”yes” style=”fancy” icon=”caret-square”]Request to send at least 30 days before the date of the drone operations to the DSAC IR territorially competent (French DGAC authorities): 92 KBDSAC IR (French DGAC authorities) contacts list – 8 July 2016 (PDF file)[/su_spoiler]

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:

For further informations:

[su_box title=”View the links by clicking on the crosses”] [su_spoiler title=”Our services, drones, prices and quotations”] Go to our page in French: “Drones, prices and quotations” [/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”The european regulations for drones by countries in different languages”] www.dronerules.eu [/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Our page: Drones & regulations in France”] Go to our page in French: “Drones & regulations in France” [/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”French DGAC authorities contacts list – 8 July 2016 (PDF file)”]92 KBFrench DGAC authorities contacts list – 8 July 2016[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Drones page regulations, in French, on the website of the French ministry in charge of transports (DGAC)”] www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/-Drones-aeronefs-telepilotes-.html [/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”French Aeronautical Information Service website”] www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr [/su_spoiler][/su_box]