Drones in Europe

[PaulW2]

UK drone operator registrations aren't valid in Europe and one is required to obtain a registration from an EU country to use one's drone there.

What do members who use their drones in Europe do? Do they register their drones, and if so is there any country for which is easiest to do a quick online registration without getting dragged into a bureaucratic nightmare?

 

[Northernraider]

I just take my chances . Use common sense as to where I fly it . But also removed any identification from the drone . Its old and has little value

 

[PaulW2]

After a few false starts I managed to register it in France. Just as well, as it will in fact be my first port of call.

Interesting difference. In the UK the operator registration is for one year and costs £ 11. In France it's for 5 years and it's free.

 

[PaulyP]

After a few false starts I managed to register it in France. Just as well, as it will in fact be my first port of call.

Interesting difference. In the UK the operator registration is for one year and costs £ 11. In France it's for 5 years and it's free.

Rip of Britain as usual.

 

[andymun]

I registered mine in Ireland as they use English in their website. Another alternative is Malta.

You should apparently register it with the first EU country you are visiting but I'm not sure how that can be checked.

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[PaulW2]

I registered mine in Ireland as they use English in their website. Another alternative is Malta.

You should apparently register it with the first EU country you are visiting but I'm not sure how that can be checked.

I imagine it can't.

And how to enforce it? Imagine that you're planning a trip to country X and register your drone in anticipation. The trip falls through and you later go elsewhere. What offence has been committed?

I expect the real issue is if you use it in an EU country without it being registered in the EU at all.

But not sure what the risk of detection is if you do that or what the consequences are. It probably depends on what you do. Buzz an air force base and expect a ton of bricks; fly over an isolated scenic gorge and no one even notices.

May also depend on local culture. Remember the case of the British plane spotters in Greece? If you fall foul of ... something ... a cultural norm or expectation, and it then turns out you're doing it illegally, consequences could be very different to if you can say "I'm an innocent abroad and look, I am officially registered and I'm doing legal things".