Drone Regulations: Exceptions for Wildlife Protection

Deviating Distance Rules for Fawn Rescue

Various operating categories are provided for drone use in Europe. For wildlife protection, the “open” category A2 (operation near uninvolved persons) and the “open” category A3 (operation far from uninvolved persons) are generally applicable.

Exception rules apply to drone flights for animal welfare and wildlife rescue, which facilitate their use in the “open” category. The basis for this is a general decree from the Federal Ministry of Transport dated November 20, 2024 (File number: PG Unb LF 6312.1/5-4) ➚.

Unmanned aircraft with a maximum take-off mass of 250 g to 25 kg may deviate from the minimum distance of 150 meters to residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational areas when operating in the “open” category, subcategory A3. The lateral distance to residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational areas must always be greater than 10 meters and always greater than the flight altitude of the unmanned aircraft.

Benefits of the Exception

The exception applies to the operation of drones used for animal welfare and wildlife rescue purposes, and not for sports or recreational purposes. In practice, this means for wildlife rescue and breeding bird protection:

  • Drone operations can take place in the “open” category, subcategory A3.
  • For pilots, the EU competency certificate A1/A3 is sufficient.
  • No drone with a classification according to Regulation (EU) 2019/945 is required; existing drones and self-built drones can also be used.
  • Adhering to the 1:1 rule, drones can be flown up to 10 m from residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational areas. For example, with the DJI Mavic 3T during fawn rescue, at a flight altitude of 55 m, it can approach residential areas up to 55 m.

Benefits of the “Open” Category, Subcategory A2

Compared to the exception rule, operating in the “open” category, subcategory A2, which is intended for operation near uninvolved persons, has the following requirements and advantages:

  • Pilots require a remote pilot certificate A2.
  • A drone with a C2 classification according to Regulation (EU) 2019/945 is required, e.g., a DJI Mavic 3T or DJI Matrice 4T.
  • Drones can be flown up to 30 m from uninvolved persons.

Operation in the “open” category, subcategory A2, allows for flights without adjusting altitude when operating near uninvolved persons and residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational areas.