What are the new EU drone rules effective from January 2026?

The EU introduced updated drone regulations to enhance safety and streamline operations across member states.

As of January 2026, the European Union drone regulatory landscape—governed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)—reaches several major implementation milestones. 

Key Regulatory Changes in 2026

• Mandatory European Standard Scenarios (STS-EU): Effective January 1, 2026, national standard scenarios (such as Spain’s STS-ES) are no longer valid for operations in the Specific Category. Operators must now use European Standard Scenarios (STS-01 and STS-02), which require drones with C5 or C6 class markings.
• Acoustic & Technical Compliance: All drones placed on the European market starting January 1, 2026, must strictly comply with Regulations 2019/945 and 2020/1058 regarding noise levels and cybersecurity. Manufacturers must now include a declaration of the drone’s acoustic power level in the EU Declaration of Conformity.
• Legacy Drone Limitations: Drones without a C-class marking (legacy drones) that were placed on the market before 2024 can still fly but are restricted to the A3 subcategory (far from people), unless they weigh less than 250g, in which case they may operate in the A1 subcategory. 

Standard Operational Categories (Open Category)

Drones in the “Open” (low-risk) category do not require prior authorization from an aviation authority if they meet these criteria: 

• Altitude Limit: Maximum height of 120 meters (approx. 400 feet) above ground level.
• Visual Line of Sight (VLOS): The pilot must maintain direct, unaided eye contact with the drone at all times.
• No Crowds: Flying over assemblies of people is prohibited across all subcategories.
• Sub-Category Rules:
  • A1 (Over People): C0 drones (<250g) and C1 drones (<900g). C1 pilots must complete online training.
  • A2 (Near People): C2 drones (<4kg). Pilots must hold an A2 Certificate of Competence (A2 CofC) and maintain a horizontal distance of at least 30 meters from uninvolved people (reduced to 5m in low-speed mode).
  • A3 (Far from People): C3 and C4 drones (up to 25kg). Must be flown at least 150 meters away from residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational areas. 

Mandatory Registration & IDs

• Operator Registration: You must register as a drone operator if your drone weighs more than 250g or if it has a camera (regardless of weight).
• ID Display: Your unique Operator ID must be physically displayed on the drone.
• Remote ID: Drones with C1, C2, and C3 markings are required to broadcast a Direct Remote Identification signal (containing operator ID, position, and altitude). 

Cross-Border Recognition

Drone pilot certificates and operator registrations issued by any EASA member state are officially recognized across all other EASA states (e.g., a certificate from Germany is valid for flying in France or Spain). 

UK Note: While the UK is no longer in the EU, it has implemented a similar UK Class Marking system (UK0–UK6) starting January 1, 2026. The UK will continue to recognize EU C-marked drones until December 31, 2027. 

How do drone laws differ between Spain and the UK in 2026?

Spain and the UK have specific provisions, especially regarding Visual Line of Sight and flight permissions.

What is the Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) requirement?

VLOS mandates that drone pilots maintain direct visual contact with their drones during flight for safety

.. VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) Requirements 

• Fundamental Rule: The operator must keep the drone in direct, unaided sight (no binoculars) to avoid collisions, maintaining awareness of surroundings.
• Distance Limit: The drone must stay within 120 meters (400 feet) vertically from the nearest earth point and generally within 500 meters horizontally, though it must always be visible.
• No-Fly Zones (FRZ): Flying in Flight Restriction Zones is still prohibited without specific permission.
• Night Flying: A flashing green light is mandatory for night operations, ensuring visibility from the ground. 

2. LOS (Loss of Sight/Line of Sight) 

• Red Light Scenarios: Losing sight of the drone (e.g., behind trees or hills) is considered “red light” (illegal) in the Open category.
• Consequences: If you cannot see it, you cannot safely avoid other aircraft or obstacles, breaking the core safety principle of the 2026 rules. 

3. VO (Visual Observer) and FPV

• FPV Goggles: Flying with FPV goggles requires a dedicated spotter (Visual Observer) next to the pilot. This person must maintain direct, unaided visual contact with the drone to monitor for risks.
• Spotter Role: The VO cannot use binoculars and must be able to communicate immediately with the pilot. 

4. 2026 Operational Context 

• Class Markings: From 2026, C1 drones (<900g) can fly in A1 (over people, not crowds), while C2 (up to 4kg) requires A2 CofC to fly closer to uninvolved people (down to 5m in low-speed mode).
• Registration: Any drone over 100g requires a Flyer ID. 

For more, you can read The Drone and Model Aircraft Code from the Civil Aviation Authority. 

Can drones be used in sensitive events like the Notre-Dame fire incident?

Drones serve as vital tools in emergencies, providing aerial views while complying with strict regulations.

Yes, extensive drone footage and imagery of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire aftermath exists online. These visuals, captured by media organizations and the Paris Fire Brigade, show the extent of the damage, including the gaping hole in the roof where the spire collapsed. 

Key Details

• Fire Brigade Use: The Paris Fire Brigade utilized two DJI drones (a Mavic Pro and a Matrice M210) during the active blaze. The drones were instrumental in tracking the fire’s progression, allowing firefighters to position their hoses effectively and ultimately saving the main structure of the cathedral.
• Media Coverage: Numerous news outlets acquired and shared drone footage in the days following the April 15, 2019, fire. This footage provided a bird’s-eye view of the devastation that was otherwise inaccessible to the public and ground-level cameras.
• Post-Fire Documentation: Drones continued to be used for documentation during the stabilization and restoration phases, even flying inside the cathedral under construction to monitor progress and assess structural integrity.
• Reopening Footage: More recent drone videos have shown the fully restored cathedral, including the rebuilt spire, ahead of its official reopening in December 2024. 

Extensive damage to the roof of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after a fire broke out in the historic site on Monday evening. The fire started around 6:30 p.m. inside Notre-Dame’s attic, nicknamed The Forest, for the 1,300 crisscrossing wooden beams that it was constructed from. In approximately an hour the fire had spread through the attic, toppled the iconic 300-foot spire and began spreading across the roof.

It took approximately 500 firefighters and over four hours to get the massive blaze under control. According to Gabriel Plus, a fire brigade spokesman, a DJI Mavic Pro and a Matrice M210 were crucial in getting the fire under control. “The drones allowed us to correctly use what we had at our disposal,”

On 15 April 2019, at 18:18 CEST, a structural fire broke out in the roof space of Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic cathedral in Paris, France, that is part of the “Paris, Banks of the Seine” UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The fire, which investigators believe was started by a cigarette or an electrical short circuit, destroyed the cathedral’s wooden spire (flèche) and most of the wooden roof and severely damaged the cathedral’s upper walls. The vaulted stone ceiling largely contained the burning roof as it collapsed, preventing extensive damage to the interior. Many works of art and religious relics were moved to safety, but others suffered smoke damage, and some of the exterior art was damaged or destroyed. The cathedral’s altar, two pipe organs, and three 13th-century rose windows suffered little or no damage. Three emergency workers were injured. The fire contaminated the site and nearby areas of Paris with toxic dust and lead.

The cathedral was then closed immediately. Two days after the blaze, President of France Emmanuel Macron set a five-year deadline to restore it. Notre-Dame did not hold a Christmas Mass in 2019 for the first time since 1803. By September 2021, donors had contributed over €840 million to the rebuilding effort. After three years of reconstruction, the cathedral reopened on 7 December 2024.

Background

The construction of the Catholic cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris (“Our Lady of Paris”) began in the 12th century. Its walls and interior vaulted ceiling are of stone. Its roof and flèche (spire) were of wood—much of it 13th-century oak—sheathed in lead to exclude water. The spire was rebuilt several times, including in the 19th century.

The cathedral’s stonework had been severely eroded by years of weather and pollution, and the spire had extensively rotted because fissures in its lead sheathing were admitting water. The roof timbers were dry, spongy and powdery with age. In 2014, the Ministry of Culture estimated needed renovations at €150 million, and in 2016 the Archdiocese of Paris launched an appeal to raise €100 million over the following five to ten years. At the time of the fire, the spire was undergoing restoration and scaffolding was being erected over the transept.

Extensive attention had been given to the risk of fire at the cathedral. The Paris Fire Brigade drilled regularly to prepare for emergencies there, including on-site exercises in 2018; a firefighter was posted to the cathedral each day; and fire wardens checked conditions beneath the roof three times daily.

More than 400 firefighters were engaged; another hundred government workers moved precious objects to safety via a human chain also including police and municipal workers.

The fire was primarily fought from inside the structure, which was more dangerous for personnel but reduced potential damage to the cathedral; applying water from outside risked deflecting flames and hot gases (at temperatures up to 800 °C or 1500 °F) inwards. Deluge guns were used at lower-than-usual pressures to minimise damage to the cathedral and its contents, with water that was supplied by pump-boat from the Seine.

The fire visible from afar

Aerial firefighting was not used because water dropped from heights could have caused structural damage, and heated stone can crack if suddenly cooled. Helicopters were not used because of dangerous updrafts, but drones were used for visual and thermal imaging, and robots were used for visual imaging and directing water streams. Molten lead falling from the roof posed a special hazard for firefighters.

By 18:52, smoke was visible from outside; flames appeared in the next ten minutes, as firefighters arrived. The spire of the cathedral collapsed at 19:50, creating a draft that slammed all the doors and sent a fireball through the attic. Firefighters then retreated from within the attic and concentrated on fighting the fire from the ground.

Shortly before the spire fell, the fire had spread to the wooden framework inside the north tower, which supported eight very large bells. Had the bells fallen, it was thought that the damage done as they fell could have collapsed the north tower and then the south tower, and with them the entire cathedral. At 20:30, firefighters abandoned attempts to extinguish the roof and concentrated on saving the towers. Despite the risk of being caught in a collapse, a firefighter squad volunteered to attempt to put out the fire in the north tower, fighting from within and between the towers. Fourth Arrondissement Mayor Ariel Weil stated “At that point, it was clear that some firefighters were going to go into the cathedral without knowing if they would come back out.” By 21:45 the fire was under control.

Adjacent apartment buildings were evacuated owing to concern about possible collapse, but on 19 April the fire brigade ruled out that risk. One firefighter and two police officers were injured.

Damage

Further information: Spire of Notre-Dame de Paris

Animation showing the south facade before and after the fire; scaffolding had been erected as part of renovations underway when the fire started.The area directly under the crossing and two other cells of vaulting collapsed. The roof reduced to piles of char atop the mostly intact vaults

Most of the wood/metal roof and the spire of the cathedral was destroyed, with about one third of the roof remaining. The remnants of the roof and spire fell atop the stone vault underneath, which forms the ceiling of the cathedral’s interior. Some sections of this vaulting collapsed in turn, allowing debris from the burning roof to fall to the marble floor below, but most sections remained intact owing to the use of rib vaulting, greatly reducing damage to the cathedral’s interior and objects within.

The cathedral contained a large number of artworks, religious relics, and other irreplaceable treasures, including a crown of thorns said to be the one Jesus wore at his crucifixion, a purported piece of the cross on which Jesus was crucified, the Tunic of Saint Louis, a much-rebuilt pipe organ by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, and the 14th-century Virgin of Paris statue.^[46]

Some artwork had been removed in preparation for the renovations, and most of the cathedral’s sacred relics were held in the adjoining sacristy, which the fire did not reach; all the cathedral’s relics survived. Some contents were moved by a human chain of emergency workers and civil servants. Many valuables that were not removed also survived, but the state of many others remained unknown as of 16 April 2019.

Lead joints in some of the 19th-century stained-glass windows melted, but the three major rose windows, dating to the 13th century, were undamaged. Several pews were destroyed, and the vaulted arches were blackened by smoke, though the church’s main cross and altar survived, along with the statues surrounding it.

Some paintings, apparently only smoke-damaged, are expected to be transported to the Louvre for restoration. A number of statues, including those of the twelve Apostles at the base of the spire, had been removed in preparation for renovations. The rooster-shaped reliquary atop the spire was found damaged but intact among the debris. The three pipe organs were not significantly damaged. The largest of the cathedral’s bells, the bourdon, was not damaged. The liturgical treasury of the cathedral and the “grands Mays” paintings were moved to safety.

Environmental damage

Airparif, an air quality monitoring organization, said winds rapidly dispersed the smoke, carrying it away aloft along the Seine corridor. It did not find elevated levels of particulate air pollution at monitoring stations nearby. The Paris police stated that there was no danger from breathing the air around the fire.

The burned-down roof had been covered with over 400 metric tons of lead. Settling dust substantially raised surface lead levels in some places nearby, notably the cordoned-off area and places left open during the fire. Wet cleaning for surfaces and blood tests for children and pregnant women were recommended in the immediate area. People working on the cathedral after the fire did not initially take the required lead precautions; materials leaving the site were decontaminated, but some clothing was not, and some precautions were not correctly followed; as a result, the worksite failed some inspections and was temporarily shut down. There was also more widespread contamination; testing, cleanup, and public health advisories were delayed for months, and the neighbourhood was not decontaminated for four months, prompting widespread criticism.

Average lead levels in Paris streets are normally five times the indoor legal limit (1,000 micrograms per square metre (0.0014 gr/sq ft)) owing to historic uses of lead, principally from runoff from intact roofs. The Health Ministry rules that children should not be exposed to more than 70 micrograms/m² indoors. There is no legal limit for outdoor lead levels, which are often very heterogeneous; the Agency regional de santé (ARS) d’Ile-de-France is not certain if some of the elevated levels being measured are connected to the fire. This lack of clarity and threshold-linked mandatory measures may have delayed action. In mid-July, regional health officials raised their outdoor guideline from 1000 micrograms/m² to 5000. Rain can redistribute the lead dust. Samples of honey collected in July 2019 revealed higher lead concentrations downwind from Notre-Dame and lead isotopes tagged the lead as originating from the fire and no other potential sources of pollutants.