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Posts tagged “easa”
2026-07-10
STS-01 vs STS-02: the two EU standard scenarios compared
STS-01 is VLOS with a C5 drone over a controlled ground area that may sit in a populated environment; STS-02 is BVLOS with a C6 drone and airspace observers in a sparsely populated one. The exact parameters — heights, distances, buffers and the pilot certificate — from Appendix 1 to Regulation (EU) 2019/947.
- sts
- specific-category
- bvlos
2026-07-10
What is FPV? Goggles, disciplines, and the rules that still apply
FPV means flying through goggles with the drone's own view — racing, freestyle, cinewhoop or long-range. But EASA rules apply to FPV exactly like to any other drone: observer, registration, exam. Here is what to know before the first flight.
- fpv
- getting-started
- open-category
2026-07-10
What are STS, PDRA and SORA? The Specific category, explained
When a flight no longer fits the Open category — BVLOS, above 120 m, over 25 kg — it lands in the Specific category. Three routes in: an STS declaration, a PDRA, or a full SORA risk assessment. Here is how they differ and how it works in Latvia.
- specific-category
- sts
- sora
2026-07-07
EASA NPA 2026-103: the 100-gram drone rule is now on paper
EASA's draft NPA 2026-103 moves the training and Remote ID line from 250 to 100 grams and adds a takeoff lockout without an operator ID. The Specific category, meanwhile, gets lighter. First changes no earlier than mid-2028.
- regulation
- easa
- eu
2026-07-05
Drone weather briefing: how to read METAR and TAF and make the go/no-go call
Gusts decide the flight, not the average wind; at 100 m it blows harder than at the surface; the TAF tells you what happens in your window. A five-minute weather briefing with METAR/TAF, the 10 km Cb rule, icing, and a six-question go/no-go call.
- meteorology
- weather
- metar-taf
2026-07-02
Drone battery safety: how to store, charge and fly Li-Po packs without wrecking them
The battery is the part of your drone that needs the most careful handling. Store it at ~50–60 %, not full and not flat; let it cool before charging; carry spares in the cabin only; retire swollen packs. And why all of it is on the A1/A3 exam.
- general-knowledge
- batteries
- li-po
2026-07-01
Assemblies of people: the one line the open category never lets you cross
Every open-category subcategory treats closeness to people differently — but none of them may fly over an assembly of people, not even a sub-250 g drone. And an "assembly" is not a headcount: it is a question of whether people can move away. Here is the precise definition and the trap it sets on the exam.
- regulations
- open-category
- assemblies-of-people
2026-07-01
Human performance: are you fit to fly the drone right now?
The one A1/A3 subject that is about you, not the drone — and it is a legal duty on every flight. What UAS.OPEN.060(2)(a) says, why the open category has no alcohol limit, the IMSAFE self-check, and perception traps like empty-field myopia.
- regulations
- open-category
- human-performance
2026-06-30
The 120-metre height limit for drones: what it's actually measured from
Everyone memorises the number 120 but gets wrong what it's measured from: the closest point of the surface below the drone, not your take-off point. Here is what UAS.OPEN.010 says, the one exception, and why a BGKIS approval buys no altitude.
- regulations
- open-category
- height-limit
2026-06-29
How old do you have to be to fly a drone? The minimum age in Latvia and the EU
In the open category the minimum age is 16 — but there are three exceptions where no age floor applies at all. And "under 250 g" is not a free pass: it removes the test, not the age. Here is exactly what Article 9 says and what Latvia chose.
- regulations
- open-category
- minimum-age
2026-06-28
Visual line of sight and the FPV observer rule: what 'keep it in sight' actually means
VLOS means unaided contact with the drone — binoculars don't count. And FPV in the open category is only legal with an observer standing beside you. Here is the precise definition, the two exceptions, and why it shows up on the A1/A3 exam.
- regulations
- vlos
- fpv
2026-06-27
The 72-hour rule: when you are legally required to report a drone incident
Most pilots don't know they are legally required to file an incident report within 72 hours after a serious event. Article 57 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 sets out when reporting is mandatory, when it is voluntary, and why doing it won't get you in trouble.
- regulations
- incident-reporting
- safety
2026-06-25
A drone with no C-class label: which subcategory can you actually fly in?
The transitional period closed on 31 December 2023. Since then a drone with no manufacturer C-class label flies in just two ways — and mass is the only thing that decides. How to tell whether yours is A1 or A3-only.
- open-category
- c-classes
- regulations
2026-06-18
Night drone flights — what the EU open category allows
Can you fly at night in the open category? Yes — with an active green flashing light and VLOS maintained. A practical guide for pilots in Latvia.
- open-category
- regulations
- easa
2026-06-17
A 100 kg Cargo Drone Joins Black Forest Mountain Rescue
Bergwacht Schwarzwald is bringing a DJI FlyCart 100 into service — a drone that flies up to 100 kg of rescue gear into hard-to-reach terrain. We explain why the payload jump matters, and why cargo is allowed but carrying people is not.
- cargo-drones
- search-and-rescue
- civil-protection
2026-06-08
BVLOS in the EU: The One Rule the Drone Market Turns On
Flying beyond visual line of sight is banned in the Open category — it moves you into the EU's Specific category. Here are the four routes to a BVLOS authorisation, why it unlocks delivery and inspection, and the real bottleneck: airspace integration.
- regulation
- easa
- eu
2026-06-08
U-space: How the EU Plans to Open the Sky to Drones
U-space is the EU framework for managing many drones in low-altitude airspace — in force since 2023. We explain the four mandatory services, how a U-space airspace works, and how far the "sky full of drones" really is.
- regulation
- easa
- eu
2026-05-17
EU Aviation Strategy Consultation and the Drone Sector
The EU opened its new aviation strategy consultation until May 21, 2026. For the drone sector, this is the moment to influence policy language before it moves into certification.
- regulation
- easa
- eu
2026-05-14
How to get the A1/A3 drone licence in Latvia in 2026
A factual guide to who actually needs A1/A3 in Latvia, what the official format is, and how it differs from simple operator registration.
- licence
- latvia
- getting-started
2026-05-14
The EU Open category — A1, A2, and A3 explained
A factual comparison of A1, A2, and A3 — what changes in distance rules, aircraft choice, and qualification inside the Open category.
- open-category
- regulations
- easa
2026-05-14
EU drone regulation 2019/947 — plain-language summary for hobby pilots
A plain-language introduction to how Reg. (EU) 2019/947 actually works in practice — categories, registration, qualification, C-classes, and national geographical zones.
- regulations
- easa
- eu