Unmanned aircraft

Unmanned aircrafts, commonly called drones, offer huge potential for developing innovative civil applications in a wide variety of sectors that benefit European society, and will contribute to creating new businesses and jobs.

Within 20 years, the European drone sector is expected to:

• directly employ more than 100,000 people
• have an economic impact exceeding €10 billion per year, mainly in services

SESAR JU published these figures in their European drones outlook study

As civil aviation evolves towards more automation, drone technology will also be crucial for the competitiveness of the European aeronautics industry as a whole. It will also contribute to revolutionize urban mobility and logistic. 

In 2014, on the basis of an extensive consultation process, the European Commission adopted a Strategy presented in a Communication to support the development of a drone ecosystem in Europe, while addressing related societal concerns such as safety, security, privacy and environmental protection. This Strategy has been regularly updated (Riga Declaration in 2015, Warsaw Declaration in 2016, Helsinki Declaration in 2017, Amsterdam Declaration of 2018) to take stock of the progress made so far and indicate new priorities. It delivered a European regulatory framework for drone operations. The first set of rules entered into force in 2021, replacing national legislations and creating a European market for drone services. New rules are progressively added to support the development of new applications.

An expert group on drones was established in April 2017. It acts as a sounding board and assists the Commission in the conception and implementation of the EU drone Strategy.

See also DG MOVE website

Since 2018, the European aviation safety Basic Regulation applies to all civil unmanned aircraft, irrespective of their weight. It defines high-level rules and essential requirements and empower the European Commission to adopt detailed rules. In order to cope with the wide range of unmanned aircraft, the Commission and EASA have developed a regulatory framework proportionate to the risk of operations. It includes 3 main categories of operations (open, specific and certified and strikes a balance between the obligations of drone manufacturers and operators in terms of safety, respect for privacy, the environment, protection against noise, and security. For example, new drones will have to be individually identifiable, allowing the authorities to trace a particular drone if necessary.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 defines the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft. The rules will cover each category of operations, from those not requiring prior permission (open category), to those involving certified aircraft and operators, as well as minimum remote pilot training requirements. This Regulation is complemented by AMC and Guidance Material adopted by EASA.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 defines the requirements applicable to the unmanned aircraft systems. Its Chapter II defines, in particular, a harmonization legislation (CE marking) defining the requirements that consumer drones must comply with in order to be used in the ‘open’ category of operations, i.e. without the need to obtain a prior authorisation from an aviation authority.

For more information, see FAQ and general information on EASA website

Standards will complement this regulatory framework. ASD-STAN D5WG8 is developing harmonised standards covering the requirements imposed on the consumer drones intended to be operated in the ‘open’ category of operations (EN4709 series). EUROCAE WG-105 develops on its side standards and guidance documents that will allow the safe operation of UAS in all types of airspaces.

In recent years, the need for a UAS traffic management system (UTM) emerged in many parts of the world. This system will enable the safe operation of a large number of drones at low-altitude (especially in urban areas) as the ATM ensures the safety of aircraft operations at high altitude. The Commission, EASA and SESAR Joint Undertaking are working the development of a UTM concept for Europe, called U-Space. In order to support the development of the U-Space, the Commission has established European Network of U-space Demonstrators.

Commission implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/664 on a regulatory framework for the U-space was adopted of 22 April 2021.

Drone operations may create several risks to citizens’ fundamental rights to privacy and personal data protection as highlighted in the following opinions and studies

Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor of 26 November 2014

Opinion on privacy and data protection issues relating to the utilisation of drones of the article 29 data protection working party adopted on 16 June 2015

Opinion on ethics of security and surveillance technologies (n°28) of the European group on ethics in science and new technologies (EGE)

Data protection and ethical risks in civil RPAS operations

Civil drones in society

Study on techniques addressing security and privacy aspects of civil operations of drones in Europe

The General Data Protection Regulation applies to drone operations. In addition, privacy and data protection issues have been taken into account in the development of drone regulations. However, rules alone are not enough. They must be made familiar to the drone community and be accessible and understandable to everyone using drones. To this end, the Commission has supported, through the Dornerules.eu project, the development of several tools:

Privacy and data protection e-course for drone professionals

Privacy Code Of Conduct

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) Template

Pre-flight Checklist

Privacy-by-Design guide

Privacy Handbook

Case studies