Most drone pilots in Latvia fly in the Open category. Inside it, the rules split into A1, A2, and A3. The differences matter because they decide three things at once:
- which aircraft you can use
- how close you may fly to uninvolved people
- which qualification you need
The short comparison
| Subcategory | Main idea | Aircraft most commonly used | Pilot qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | lighter aircraft, closest to people | <250 g, C0, C1 | A1/A3 where required |
| A2 | closer operations with a C2 aircraft | C2 | A1/A3 + A2 |
| A3 | flights far from people and built-up areas | C0 to C4, depending on the case | A1/A3 |
A1
A1 has the fewest limits around uninvolved people, but it still does not let you fly over crowds.
In practice:
- aircraft under
250 gandC0aircraft may be used in A1 C1aircraft may also be used in A1- with
C1, the remote pilot must not fly over uninvolved people on purpose
So A1 is not "fly anywhere". It is simply the Open-category subcategory with the lightest aircraft and the smallest gap from people.
A2
A2 is the middle ground. It exists for flights with a C2 aircraft closer to uninvolved people than A3 would allow.
The core distance rule is:
- at least
30 mhorizontally from uninvolved people - you may go closer in low-speed mode, but the distance still stays tight
For Latvia, the public CAA materials describe A2 as a separate path:
- valid A1/A3 proof first
- practical self-training
- a separate A2 exam
A3
A3 is the subcategory for flights far from uninvolved people and away from residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas.
The CAA Open-category summary makes two points:
- the flight must stay at least
150 mhorizontally from those areas - inside the operating area, you still keep your distance from uninvolved people
A3 is often the fallback for heavier or older aircraft when A1 or A2 does not fit.
Which certificate goes with which subcategory
The qualification structure is simpler than many summaries make it sound:
- one A1/A3 certificate covers both A1 and A3
- A2 needs the extra A2 step
There is no separate "A1-only" or "A3-only" certificate.
What about drones under 250 g?
This is the point most often oversimplified online.
For aircraft under 250 g:
- operator registration may still be required, especially when the aircraft has a camera and is not a toy
- but operator registration and A1/A3 qualification are not the same thing
So the right question is not just "Does it have a camera?". The right questions are:
- what is the aircraft class or mass?
- which subcategory applies?
- does the CAA require pilot qualification in that case?
Older aircraft
The transition period is over. The Latvian CAA summary explains that older drones without a C-class label can still be used, but they have fewer options than class-marked aircraft.
For an older aircraft, it is worth checking:
- the aircraft mass
- whether the flight fits A1 or only A3
- whether a newer class-marked aircraft would make the job easier
A good way to read Open
If you want to stay out of trouble, do not start with product names or marketing labels. Start with:
- subcategory
- aircraft class or mass
- distance to uninvolved people
- geographical-zone restrictions
Once those four are clear, most Open-category decisions get much easier.
Need the bigger picture around the regulation itself? Read our plain-language summary of Reg. (EU) 2019/947.
