Check2FlyEuropean drone flight rules at a glance

Western Europe

France

France applies the EU EASA framework but combines it with extensive national restrictions on airspace, cities, protected areas and privacy. In practice, before each flight you must check Geoportail, the AlphaTango requirements and whether the flight still falls within the open category.

Altitude: 120 m AGLRegistration: May be required depending on the operation or aircraft.

Flight rules

Quick overview for this country

This is a short overview of the most important requirements. Always confirm details and exceptions in official sources.

Registration requiredYes, depending on the operation or equipment.

Training requiredYes, often needed for compliance in the open category.

Maximum altitude120 m AGL

Camera / registration noteOperator registration is required for drones over 250 g and for drones with sensors able to collect personal data, e.g. a camera or microphone. In France, operator and pilot formalities for the open category are handled through the AlphaTango portal. In addition, drones over 800 g are subject to national registration in AlphaTango and generally must have a French electronic signal; for night flights there is also a light signal requirement.

Local points to double-check

Do not fly higher than 120 m, keep the drone within visual line of sight and do not fly over gatherings of people. The minimum pilot age in the open category in France is 14.
In A3, keep at least 150 m from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas; in A2, a C2 class generally allows 30 m from uninvolved people or 5 m in low-speed mode.
Before each flight, check Geoportail, because in many places lower altitude limits, flight bans or time-based zones apply that the pilot may not intuitively take into account.
In France, privacy and image rights are of major importance; publishing material that allows people or private property to be identified may require consent.
If a flight does not meet the open category conditions, as of 1 January 2026 you can no longer rely on the former national standard scenarios and must move to the EU specific category or STS. The BAPD previously obtained by sworn declaration is no longer valid after 31 December 2025.

Pre-flight checklist

Check everything before takeoff

Tick off the steps to verify the most important points before the flight.

0/5 done

Step 1Check that the operator is correctly registered in AlphaTango and that the operator number is placed on the drone; for drones over 800 g, also confirm the national registration and compliance with the electronic signal requirement.Step 2Confirm the required pilot competency: OPEN A1/A3 for many flights in the open category and OPEN A2 for the relevant operations with a C2 class drone; do not rely on the old BAPD after 31 December 2025.Step 3Open Geoportail and verify the altitude limits, bans and conditions for the exact take-off location and the flight route.Step 4Make sure the flight is not over a gathering of people, in dense built-up areas without a legal basis, or in a sensitive or restricted zone.Step 5If the operation goes beyond the conditions of the open category, prepare it in accordance with the specific category and the current European STS scenarios.

Official sources

Where to confirm current information

Open the authority or official flight map to confirm zones and current restrictions.

Authority websiteDGAC / AlphaTangoOpen source Flight mapGeoportail Restrictions UAS categorie ouverte et aeromodelismeOpen source

Information sources

Ministerstwo: open category Ministerstwo: open A1/A3 and A2 training and exams Ministerstwo: specific category AlphaTango Geoportail: restrictions for UAS in the open category

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Important

Check2Fly provides a simplified overview and does not replace official aviation regulations or current airspace data. Always verify local restrictions in official sources before flying.