New rules will apply to drones starting 2020 in the Czech Republic, the coronavirus is partly to bla27/5/2020|Press releases On December 31, 2020 new rules for pilot-less planes, usually called "drones", will apply in the Czech Republic and the whole EU. As attention had to be paid to such challenges as the fight against the spread of the COVID 19 disease, the original date July 1, 2020 was postponed. Therefore, existing regulations remain in force until the end of 2020. The new rules will primarily apply to drones registration, the terms and conditions of their traffic and required technical parameters. The uniform rules will enable drones operation across all EU countries. "The biggest change is that the operator of the drone needs to register the drone in a new registry of the Civil Aviation Authority, from which it will get a unique ID, identifying all drones. This registration will apply to almost all drones. It will be on-line and free of charge", says Zdeněk Jelínek, head of the Civil Aviation Unit of the Ministry of Transport, about the new system. Three basic drone operation categories will be introduced: "open", "specific" and "certified". The basic "open" category will allow the operator to operate the drone also without a prior permission from the authority provided applicable terms will be met. The medium "specific" category is intended for those who need to break any of the limits of the basic category. And the most stringent "certified" category will involve future sophisticated drones operations. Existing premises where it is forbidden or restricted to fly drones will be preserved for the time being. Drones, that will not fully correspond with the new Europe-wide requirements regarding drone parameters and technical equipment, can still be in use for a two-year transitory period. Operators of drones associated in the Union of Hobby Modellers of the Czech Republic and complying the existing domestic rules can take advantage of a two-year period with exemptions from the new rules. The Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority will introduce, early in advance, rules to regulate drones operation from 2021. You can find the ten biggest changes and details in the recap attached. Information on new rules will be also continuously published at a new special website Be a responsible pilot. Overview of main changes that come to effect on Dec 31, 2020: The drone operator must register in the new registry launched by the Civil Aviation Authority and immediately receives an ID number to identify all its drones. Compulsory registration applies to the majority of people operating a drone with a weight from 250 g. Registration will be on-line and free of charge – no need to come to the Civil Aviation Authority. Three basic drone operation categories, each of them subject to different regulations, will be introduced. The lowest basic operation category will make it possible to operate the drone also without a prior permission from the authority, with a number of restrictions and requirements such as pilot training, etc. The medium, specific category is intended for those who need to break any of the limits of the basic category. And the most stringent certified category is intended for future sophisticated drones operations. Existing areas where drones are or are now allowed to fly in the Czech Republic (e.g. the surroundings of airports), will be preserved – at least at the beginning. New requirements will apply to the parameters and equipment of drones sold in the Czech Republic. However, existing drones not equipped accordingly can still be used without limitations for a transitory period. Existing domestic rules for the operation of plane models within a club or association of aviation modellers (i.e. Svaz modelářů České republiky z. s. in the Czech Republic) will still temporarily apply. The above-mentioned rules will enable drone operation across all EU countries provided that additional requirements of the respective country are met as well.