Drone regulations in Austria
Last update on 25.04.2021 | 26 Kommentare
In this article, we explain the legal situation for the use of drones in Austria.
The EU Drone Regulation has been in force in Austria since December 31, 2020. This has largely harmonized the rules for remote pilots. You only have to register as an operator in one European country and your EU drone license is also recognized across countries.
If you want to register in Austria, you can do so via this link.
Overview of the European rules that apply in Austria
In Austria, the regulations of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) apply. The following is a summary of the key facts. For a complete overview, read our article on the new EU drone regulation.
National peculiarities in Austria
Each country can define certain aspects of its drone regulations. For Austria, the following requirements apply in addition to the European regulations.
Austro Control
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone unmanned aerial vehicles: +4351703 7111
Further regulations
Austro Control is responsible for EU licenses in Austria. You can find information on the authority’s website. If you have already been a long-distance pilot in Austria, you can benefit from a transition phase. Examination certificates in combination with operating licenses remain valid until January 1st, 2022, but you cannot have them transferred to an EU license. This means that you will need one of the new licenses by 2022 at the latest if this is necessary for your maneuvers.
Your liability insurance for the drone must include coverage of at least 750,000 special drawing rights (equivalent to 900,000 euros, as of the beginning of February 2021).
Radio transmission is possible on the frequencies 2.5 GHz with a maximum of 10 mW and 5.8 GHz with a maximum of 25 mW.
We have researched the listed drone regulations for Austria to the best of our knowledge. We can not guarantee the correctness of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, please contact the competent aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also ask the embassy in your country for further information about the regulations. Please leave us a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your copter in Austria!
There is a quite common misunderstanding of Austrian drone regulations. Nowhere in these regulations the mass of 250 g has been mentioned. A drone is considered to be a toy (and as such not an interest of the Austro Control) as long as it flies below 30 m AND its impact energy does not exceeds 79 J.
So, 250 grams falling down from height of 30 m reaches the energy of 79 J (now we know where this 250 comes from). But for instance the maximum energy of a 400 g drone operating below 20 m also is 79 J, and such a drone is treated as a toy according to the Austrian regulations.
hi A. Twyers, where could i find the exact sentence of the law in German which implies that ” 400 g drone operating below 20 m also is 79 J”. so it means that i can put a camera on a 400 gr drone and film from as low as 10 meters?
I am not sure the exact wording of the law in German but the Austrian Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie has put out a German pamphlet explaining the law. You can find it at https://infothek.bmvit.gv.at/assets/uploads/2015/10/Flugblatt-Drohnen_20150921_v3.pdf
The German wording of the law can be found at https://www.jusline.at/gesetz/lfg/paragraf/24d
Google translates the German as follows:
Insofar as unmanned devices with a maximum kinetic energy below or equal to 79 joules, which can be used independently on the fly, are not operated more than 30 meters above ground, care must be taken to ensure that no persons or property are endangered by the operation. Apart from this, these devices do not fall within the scope of this Federal Law.
Hi,
Yes, you’re right. My formulation is a bit misleading. I will explain the 79 Joule rule in more depth here in the near future.
Does anyone know what the consequences are if found without a license?
In Austria, penalties of up to 22,000 euros are possible.
Here you can find more about the 250 grams, i going to take my spark or Mavic Air to Austria next winter.
Just to shoot some pictures on the mountain, whne there is nobody around. First this summer to Lake Garda, and the Italians are so relaxed about this, did it last year, had no problems.
Hi micheal. I will also be in Austria, in Seefeld, from December 23rd to 30th with my Mavic 2 Pro. I hope to shoot good videos. I am informing about the Austrian drone laws to avoid problems.
I am going on a bus trip from the UK to Austria.
I would like to take my Mavic Pro with me to take some holiday snaps in open spaces. I am a hobbyist pilot. Registered with Drone Safe and Insured. Is there any rules I should know before taking my drone?
I have a Mavic Air, Can anyone tell me if you are likely to get stopped at the airport in Austria for carrying the drone. I was thinking of taking it and only using it in wide open and unpopulated areas but wouldn’t want to risk having issues at the airport for even having one in my luggage. Thanks
Any update?
I have flow to Austria many timew with a drone and they have never checked my bagged or said anything.
it was fine
Thanks for the great post! I’m planing a commercial shoot for a hotel I Seefeld Austria in mid December, and it involves some drone-shooting. Do you know of a drone insurance that will cover commercial shooting/flying for multiple nations? I’m a Norwegian currently living in Spain.
We are also going to be travelling to Vienna, Budapest, Prague in Winter. I was thinking of foraying into drones with the new Mavic 2 Zoom or Pro. Any comments about laws on filming the beautiful architecture in these countries would be appreciated. Are they prohibited? How can I get the Drone Safe & Insured Status?
Can anyone please share the problems faced in Austria due to drones?
I fly my drone already in Austria Vienna and I don’t have problems because I have the smallest one dji spark and is 300 g. I don’t know where to record my drone and if its necessary.
I went there for a week and flew my M air in rural areas.
I think its slightly exaggerated how bad it is if im honest. At the end of the day its using common sense and using it away from people. That’s kind of my rule using it anywhere really as people rightfully get pissed off if you fly it in built up, crowded areas.
Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Hey all, I’m sorry for maybe stupid question, but I did not get it: I have a Mavic Pro + insurance. Question: Should I fill in any applications and register something somewhere? Maybe I did not fully understand the requirements, so hope you can clarify that for me. Thank you in advance!
if youre drone weighs less than 250g but is equipped with a camera, you still need to register it
Hello Richard,
You register as an operator if you want to use a camera drone in Austria.
Register as an operator in my own country I Presume? I’m from the Netherlands so I need to register in at the RDW (that is the organisation that registers users and drones in the Netherlands)
Hi Henk,
Yes, that is correct. You should register in your home country and the registration will be recognized in the other countries that follow the EU rules. We have written a little bit more about this here: https://drone-traveller.com/eu-drone-registration/#where-does-one-register-as-a-drone-operator
How to register for Austria, every time I find what I think is correct form, its in German. Is there an english version