Indirect NON-EASA activities

Open-category operations

The open category covers all operations with low operational risk UAS.

For those operations that fall under the open category in accordance with Article 4 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, the UAS operator should: 

• Be registered and incorporate in their aircraft their operator number. For more details and to consult exclusions consult here.
• Ensure that remote pilots carrying out UAS operations are adequately trained for the relevant subcategory, as indicated here.
• Check the specific requirements depending on the place of operation or the type of activity to be carried out. For more information see here.
• Have an insurance policy that covers civil liability against third parties, as indicated here.

Operations in specific category

Standard scenario

The operation of UAS according to a standard scenario adopted in the framework of the Implementing Regulation, or by a national standard scenario adopted by the State Aviation Safety Agency, requires the submission of the operational declaration following the same procedure as in the declarations of conformity of the national standard scenarios. 

The operator shall be responsible for carrying out the operation subject to the relevant standard scenario. 

The operational statement, for a given standard scenario, shall include: 

• administrative information on the UAS operator,
• a statement that the operation meets the operational requirements described in the scenario,
• the commitment of the UAS operator to implement all mitigation measures necessary for the safety of the operation and
• confirmation by the UAS operator that adequate insurance will be available for each flight performed under the declaration. 

These declarations will be made electronically through AESA's website. To carry out the procedure, the UAS operator must be previously registered as an operator. (NON-EASA UAS operator registration section)

• Guide to the submission of an operational statement Ed.05.

NON-EASA national standard scenarios

With the entry into force of Royal Decree 517/2024, AESA has approved two national standard NO EASA scenarios (STS-ES-NE) applicable only in Spanish sovereign territory and airspace, for which it is not necessary to have an aircraft with class marking. The published NON-EASA national standard scenarios are as follows: 

• STS-ES-01NE: VLOS operations over a controlled land area in a populated environment.
• STS-ES-02NE: BVLOS operations with airspace observers over a controlled ground area in a sparsely populated environment. 

“Controlled land area” is defined as a land area where the UAS is used and where the UAS operator can ensure that only persons participating in the UAS operation are present.

As an aid for the elaboration of the documentation that the Non-EASA operator must have to carry out this type of operations, the ConOps are provided, which must be annexed to the general Operations Manual for this type of scenarios;

• Format ConOps.STS-ES-01NE Ed.01
• Format ConOps.STS-ES-02NE Ed.01

The declared operations can be started once the UAS operator has the proof of presentation issued by AESA.

Operational authorisation

Specific category operations carried out on behalf of a public body that cannot be carried out under a standard scenario will require an operational authorisation issued by AESA, which must comply with the provisions of said Royal Decree and European regulations. In other words, the same requirements apply as for EASA activities. 

It is therefore for AESA to authorise the implementation of the activities. 

Applications will be made electronically through AESA's website. To carry out the procedure, the UAS operator must be previously registered as an operator. (section of registration of operator of UAS NO EASA) All the necessary information is available here.

Contact AESA UAS Division:

In case of doubts or special situations related to indirect NON EASA activities or services, you can address your query to the drone mail box (drones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es).