Airshows and events with UAS/drones

Marco normativo

Operations with UAS carried out in the context of an aerial demonstration are subject to compliance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947. This Regulation shall:

• It is mandatory for UAS users, including those who carry out sports, recreational, competition and exhibition activities.
• It lays down detailed provisions for the use of unmanned aircraft systems, as well as for personnel, including remote pilots, and organisations involved in such operations based on three operational categories depending on the risk of the operation: ‘open’, ‘specific’ and ‘certified’.

In addition,  Royal Decree 1919/2009 of 11 December 2009 regulating aeronautical safety in civil air demonstrations and the amendments made to it by Royal Decree 517/2024 of 4 June 2009 developing the legal regime for the civil use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS):

• It applies to any publicly announced demonstration open to the general public or with restricted access.
• Does not apply to:
  • Military Air Shows or Exhibits
  • Official sports competitions, carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Sports Law or applicable regional legislation.
  • UAS demonstrations with a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) of less than 250 g and marked with class C0.
  • UAS demonstrations developed entirely in enclosed indoor spaces or in spaces where the probability of the unmanned aircraft escaping into open airspace is very low, e.g. through networks.

Use of airspace

In any case, they must comply with the conditions of the UAS geographical areas that are applicable to the place of demonstration.

For more information, please refer to the section “UASgeographical areas”

The publication of NOTAM is not mandatory when the vertical limits of the volume of airspace in which the demonstrations will take place are less than 120 m from the nearest point on the earth's surface. In such cases, the demonstration manager may determine the need for the publication of a NOTAM for security reasons.

Procedure

Irrespective of the operational category in which the aerial demonstration is framed, the procedure to be followed will be:

1. The organizer must present a declaration responsible for compliance with the requirements of Royal Decree 1919/2009 at least 15 days before the date of the demonstration. To complete the procedure, go to the following link.
2. The demonstration manager shall coordinate directly with the air traffic service providers the actions required in relation to the use of airspace and the management, if appropriate, at least 15 days before the publication of a NOTAM. Contacts of air traffic service providers to whom NOTAM requests should be addressed, if applicable, are:
   • Department of Operational Coordination (COP) of ENAIRE through the email cop@enaire.es
   • SKYWAY Technical Office via email uas@skyway-ans.com 
   • SAERCO Operations Address via email uas@saerco.com
   • Dependencies of the Ministry of Defense through the mail published for each of them in section GEN 3.3 of the AIP.

Insurance

Depending on the MTOM of the UAS and the operational category in which the flights to be performed are framed, it may be subject to the obligation to have civil liability insurance. Further information can be found in the section entitled “Civilliability insurance”.

Irrespective of the insurance exceptions to the UAS, civil liability insurance is compulsory for participation in aerial demonstrations in accordance with Chapter IV of Royal Decree 1919/2009.

Contact AESA UAS Division:

In case of doubt or special situations related to aerial exhibitions and events with UAS, you can direct your query to the drone mailbox (drones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es).