Qualification as a professional RPAS operator

IMPORTANT: This section applies only to operators of remotely piloted aircraft (RPAS) performing “non-EASA activities or services” and are not excluded by Article 3 of Royal Decree 1036/2017.

 

Prior Communication Enabling

---

Those interested in being qualified as an operator of remotely piloted aircraft must submit a prior communication to the State Aviation Safety Agency (Appendix A.1). The activities and assumptions that require prior communication to EASA, as well as the instructions to follow, are detailed in the “Enabling procedure (Article 39)”.

• Empowerment procedure (art. 39)
• Electronic Headquarters link for pre-communication submission
• List of RPAS operators’ prior communications for NO EASA activities (periodic update)

Authorisation by authorisation

---

Operators who are interested in operating in the new scenarios subject to authorisation under the regulations must submit an application for authorisation (Appendix A.2) together with the required documentation to the State Aviation Safety Agency. The activities requiring prior authorisation from EASA, as well as the requirements and instructions to follow and the necessary documentation, are detailed in the “Procedure for Application for Authorisation (Article 40)”.

• Procedure for the application for authorisation (art. 40)
• Web link for authorisation request
• RPAS operator authorisation list for NO EASA activities (periodic update)

Standard scenarios for “non-EASA activities or services” based on Royal Decree 1036/2017

---

A standard scenario is an operational scenario, characterised by its concept of operation (ConOps), which is represented through a specific safety study developed using the SORA methodology, which can be addressed by any authorised operator, in which the conditions under which the operation is considered safe and the related mitigations are already set. Therefore, if the proposed scenario can be assumed by the operator in all its terms (operational, technical, human and organizational), it is not necessary to carry out the study exhaustively; you can submit the corresponding documentation, adapting what is applicable, and indicate that you request authorisation for this particular scenario.

• STSN01 Standard Night Flight Scenario
• STSE01 Standard scenario for flight in controlled airspace
• STSA01 Standard scenario for flight in agglomerations of buildings
• STSA02 Standard scenario for flight in agglomerations of buildings and controlled airspace
• STSA03 Standard scenario for flight in agglomerations of buildings in atypical airspace
• STSA04 Standard scenario for agglomerations of buildings, controlled airspace and night flight
• STSX01 Standard scenario for experimental flights in BVLOS in segregated airspace for aircraft less than 25 kg
• STSX02 Standard scenario for experimental flights in BVLOS in segregated airspace for aircraft over 25 kg

Guide material for operator rating

---

Detailed information on compliance with regulatory requirements and preparation of the technical documentation required of RPAS operators is available in the section “Acceptable means of compliance and RPAS guidance material”.

• Acceptable means of compliance and RPAS guidance material

In addition, the following presentation is published as an aid to provide information and tools to RPAS operators in the processes of enabling operators, mainly under the authorisation scheme:

• Presentation for RPAS operators on the enabling (authorisation) processes of RPAS operations.

 

Contact AESA UAS Division: 
 
In case of doubt or special situations related to the qualification as a professional RPAS operator, you can direct your inquiry to the drone mailbox (drones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es).