A drone flies in the nature

Digital Platform for Unmanned Aviation

Registration and qualification 

Registration as a drone pilot

Private individuals and companies must comply with the following requirements for drone operation:

In principle, a distinction first has to be made between UAS operator and remote pilot.

A UAS operator intends to operate a drone. A remote pilot, on the other hand, is the person who actually controls the flight of the drone. If private individuals are operating a drone, the operator and the remote pilot are the same person.

Pursuant to section 66a(3) of the LuftVG (German only), UAS operators with main residence in Germany are obliged to register with the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) if they want to operate a drone with a take-off mass of more than 249 g. Registration is also necessary to operate drones weighing less than 250 g equipped with a sensor to collect personal data, such as a (video, photo, infrared) camera, microphone etc..

Further information and the possibility to register as an operator is provided by the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (German only).

The following information/documents are required for operator registration:

Natural person / Private individual

Legal person

  • Full name according to identification document
  • Date of birth
  • Scan of an official valid identification document (identity card or passport), showing the above data as well as the validity date (format: PNG, JPG or JPEG)
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Name of insurer and number of insurance policy
  • Full name according to official documents (e. g. extract from the commercial register, entry in the register of associations ...)
  • Scan of an official valid document (e. g. extract from the commercial register, extract from the register of associations...), proving the existence of that legal person (format: PDF, PNG, JPG or JPEG)
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Name of insurer and number of insurance policy

After being registered as operator, every UAS operator receives an electronic registration number (e-ID). Only one e-ID is assigned per person in order to ensure unique identification. All drones belonging to that person are then marked with this number.


Qualification for drone operation in Germany

As a remote pilot in the ‘open’ category, you are obliged to obtain the EU certificate of competency (A1/A3) or the EU certificate of remote pilot competency (A2). Such proof of competency must be available before the first UAS flight, provided the UAS has a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) of at least 250g. Below 250 g MTOM, no proof of competencyy is required, but completion of the EU certificate of competency (A1/A3) is recommended.

EU certificate of competency (A1/A3)

The Federal Aviation Office provides appropriate training courses and an online test (German only) to obtain the EU certificate of competency.


Sample of a EU certificate of competency, including logos of EASA, LBA and a QR-code, issued for A1/A3 category. Text: Proof of completition of the online training. Issued to Maximilian Mustermann.

 

Certificate of remote pilot competency (A2)

In addition, remote pilots who want to operate in subcategory A2 must hold an EU certificate of remote pilot competency (German only). For this purpose, a further theory test has to be passed, among other things, which builds on the first one. For this purpose, the Luftfahrtbundesamt provides a list of designated testing centers for taking the test (German only).


Sample of a Certificate of remote pilot competency, including logos of EASA, LBA and a QR-code, issued for A1/A3 and A2 category. Text: remote pilot certificate of competence. Issued to Maximilian Mustermann.


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