Madrid, 27 December 2023 (AESA)

From 1 January 2024, UAS Class Marking and Direct Remote Identification (DRI) in accordance with UAS European regulations, namely Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, will apply.

The State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), has updated all the content of the web section dedicated to drones/UAS so that operators and manufacturers of UAS have all the information in relation to this novelty that comes into application from January 1 of next year. You can access all the content here.

On the basis of the class marking, the labelling of the aircraft must include, before placing on the market, the following information:

• - CE marking on the product or on a data plate attached to it.
• - UA class identification label.
• - Indication of sound power level.
• - Identification number of the notified body, if applicable. 

In a classification based on operational risk, three categories of UAS are differentiated:

• - Open: Low risk, operations without prior authorisations or declarations. It is divided into 3 subcategories (A1, A2 and A3).
• - Specific: Medium risk. Operations requiring prior authorisation from the authority or prior declaration of the operator in the case of standard scenarios.
• - Certified: High risk. Operations that require prior UAS and operator certification, as well as remote pilot license.

Direct remote identification

Operators wishing to fly with UAS/drones in open category (A1, A2 and A3) that have class marking (C1, C2 and C3), as well as those wishing to operate in a specific category (under national and European standard scenario or under authorisation), shall be equipped with a direct remote identification system.

Open category

As of 1 January, UAS marketed to operate in an open category shall belong to one of the following classes: 

• - C0 with MTOM < 250 grams
• - C1 with MTOM < 900 grams or < 80 joules impact
• - C2 with MTOM < 4 kg
• - C3 y C4 with < 25 kg

The rest of UAS without class marking, with certain restrictions, may be operated in subcategory A1 provided they have a MTOM < 250 g or A3.

UAS as defined in Article 20 of the EUSR (EU) 2019/947, i.e. which have been placed on the market before 1 January 2024 and are not of private construction and have no class marking, shall be considered as "legacy drones".

Specific category

European Standard Scenarios: there are two classes of UAS for European Standard Operating Scenarios (STS) in specific category, both with MTOM < 25 kg: 

• - C5, which allows you to perform operations in STS-01: VLOS (pilot line of sight) over a controlled land area in a populated environment. 
• - C6, which allows operations in STS-02: BVLOS (beyond the visual range of the pilot) is a controlled land area in sparsely populated surroundings.

From 1 January 2024, UAS operators may submit declarations in accordance with the European standard scenarios set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947. 

National Standard Scenarios: from 31 December 2020 until 30 August 2024, UAS operators may continue to submit declarations in accordance with the National Standard Scenarios (STS-ES) published by EASA. Such declarations shall be valid and may be operated as declared, until 31 December 2025. 

If you have any questions about the UAS regulations, you can write to us at drones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es

Informative talks by AESA

The State Aviation Safety Agency, in its commitment to the promotion of aviation safety, has organised two informative talks to explain the latest developments of the UAS regulations in application from January 1, 2024. Both sessions are free and can be followed in face-to-face and virtual mode: 

• - 18 January 2024. The Center of Excellence UAS of AESA organises the the Drones Day and class marking in the hall of our headquarters. You can find all the information and details for registration here.
• - 24 January 2024. Within the framework of the Agency’s 15th Anniversary activities, an online session on class marking and direct remote identification has been included in the virtual Open Days organised by AESA. All the information in this link.

About AESA

AESA is the State body, attached to the State Secretariat for Transport of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, which ensures that civil aviation standards are met throughout the aeronautical activity of Spain.

The Agency has the tasks of Supervision, Inspection and Management of Air Transport, Air Navigation and Airport Safety. It assesses the risks to transport safety and has the power to sanction infringements of civil aviation rules

For more information: drones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es