• In 2024 alone, more than 25,000 new UAS operators have been registered with AESA, reflecting the constant development and professionalisation of this sector.

• By Autonomous Communities, Andalusia, Madrid and Catalonia are the territories with the highest number of operators registered with AESA.

• The new UAS regulation, Royal Decree 517/2024, in force since June 2024, has made it possible to establish the legal framework for the civil use of UAS, adapting national regulations to European requirements and providing stability and legal certainty for the development of the sector.

• In the training of UAS pilots, the 1,134 certificates issued by AESA for operations in the new European standard scenarios (STS-EU) in force since the beginning of the year stand out.

• Among the milestones of 2024, the promotion of the use of UAS in the phytosanitary sector and the first authorizations for model aircraft operations up to 300 meters, the issuance of the first LUC or swarming flights with up to 1,000 drones stand out.

 

Madrid, 15 January 2025 (AESA).

The Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) ended 2024 with the registration of a total of 119,712 operators of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in Spain, an increase of 27% over the previous year. In 2024, 25,679 new UAS operators were registered with the Agency, reflecting, once again, the growth and development of the national drone industry.

By Autonomous Communities, the territories with the most registered UAS operators are: Andalusia (21,152 registered operators), Community of Madrid (19,153) and Catalonia (14,676).

The entry into force on June 25 of the new Royal Decree 517/2024 has marked a turning point to boost the sector, since it has established a national regulatory framework for the civilian use of UAS consistent with that of the European Union, providing stability and legal certainty to the drone sector in Spain.

This regulation aims to promote the provision of services and economic activity in the sector, favoring the competitiveness of Spanish operators and manufacturers. Among the novelties, the changes and regulations within EASA operations, the creation of a new UAS zoning, the development of the regulatory framework for U-Space, and the application of the legal regime to non-EASA operations stand out.

 

Training of UAS pilots

The entry into force of this new regulation has brought changes in the training of remote pilots, introducing changes and new requirements. More information can be found here.

With regard to pilot training, since the entry into force of the European regulations in 2022, AESA has issued a total of 221,340 training certificates to carry out operations with UAS. With this, at least 117,909 pilots have received the most basic training for UAS operations (open category A1/A3), 21,876 pilots received it in 2024.

One of the most important points in the novelties of RD 517/2024 in this area is the training of UAS radiophonists, who must have a theoretical certificate, issued by AESA, and a practical one, issued by an examiner authorized by AESA. Since the entry into force of this regulation, AESA has issued 584 theoretical certificates for UAS radiophonists.

On the other hand, since January 1, 2024, the European Standard Scenarios (STS-EU) came into application, which currently coexist with the national standard scenarios (STS-ES) until the end of their application on December 31, 2025. Since its entry into force, EASA has issued 1,134 STS-EU certificates, registering 80 entities recognised for this purpose.

 

A year full of milestones for the sector

2024 has been closed as one of the years with the most progress in regulatory matters for the UAS sector, but also as a period that has achieved important milestones in this area.

In this year, AESA has issued the first authorization for operations with up to 1,000 swarming drones for national territory, an example of the breakthrough and innovation of the Spanish UAS sector, which allows progress to be made in the diversification of commercial services with drones. Currently, UMILES Group and Flock Drone Art are the two Spanish operators that hold this authorization.

In addition, the Agency has issued the first UAS light operator certificate (LUC) to CATUAV, a success case that allows this operator to assess the risks of its operation and authorize its activity, thus reducing formalities by allowing its operations immediately.

Likewise, AESA also published a new rapid risk assessment specific to phytosanitary operations (PDRA-01-F) with UAS of up to 3 meters, adapted to aerial work of fumigation and dispersion of agricultural/forestry products. Since the publication of this PDRA 01-F, the Agency has processed 160 agricultural applications,authorising 120 of them under this new procedure. This fact is a good example of AESA's work to streamline the administrative procedures of the sector, also contributing to the application of UAS technology to other sectors.

Another milestone to highlight in 2024 has been the first authorisations issued by AESA to carry out model aircraft operations above 120 metres in height. With this, the Royal Spanish Federation of Aeromodeling and the Spanish Association of Aeromodeling have been allowed to practice operations up to 300 meters, or in some cases, up to 500 meters, in their different associated clubs.

Finally, last December AESA defined two new national standard scenarios specific to non-EASA activities, to adapt the needs of this type of operations, such as police, customs, surveillance or search and rescue, to the new regulation, RD 517/2024.

AESA, in its commitment to the public sector, has thus ended a year of work and effort to continue promoting the UAS sector in Spain. From the UAS section of our website you can access all the updated information for greater agility and understanding of the regulations, as well as consult the content of the informative days that we organize with the sector.

 

About EASA

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 rules are complied with in all aeronautical activity in Spain.

The Agency has the missions of Supervision, Inspection and Management of Air Transport, Air Navigation and Airport Security. It assesses risks to transport safety and has the power to impose penalties for infringements of civil aviation rules.