{"id":12945,"date":"2025-03-23T13:12:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T13:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/safety\/regulations\/safety-rules\/"},"modified":"2025-05-20T17:59:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:59:20","slug":"safety-rules","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/safety\/regulations\/safety-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic safety rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_custom full_height valign_top\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox us_custom_7e20fa79 us_animate_this iconpos_left style_default color_primary align_left no_text\"><div class=\"w-iconbox-icon\" style=\"font-size:2rem;\"><i class=\"fas fa-drone-alt\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox-meta\"><h5 class=\"w-iconbox-title\">The drone should always remain within sight of the pilot<\/h5><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs us_custom_2ad99fe7 style_default switch_click accordion type_togglable has_scrolling\" style=\"--sections-title-size:inherit\"><div class=\"w-tabs-sections titles-align_none icon_plus cpos_right\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"a41d\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-a41d\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Review the requirements<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-a41d\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p data-start=\"245\" data-end=\"269\">This requirement is valid for <strong>Open Category<\/strong> flights where the drone must be in the pilot&#8217;s field of view at all times. This requirement is called <strong>VLOS<\/strong> (Visual Line of Sight).<\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"848\" data-end=\"851\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"245\" data-end=\"269\">\u2705 <strong>What is required<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"270\" data-end=\"617\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"270\" data-end=\"463\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"342\">The pilot <strong>should always see the drone with the naked eye<\/strong>, without the aid of:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"463\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"345\" data-end=\"355\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"355\">binoculars,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"358\" data-end=\"370\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"360\" data-end=\"370\">telescopes,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"373\" data-end=\"438\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"375\" data-end=\"438\">FPV goggles (except in special cases and competitions with exceptions),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"441\" data-end=\"463\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"443\" data-end=\"463\">or drone cameras.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"464\" data-end=\"617\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"466\" data-end=\"500\">The pilot should be able to judge:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"503\" data-end=\"617\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"503\" data-end=\"524\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"505\" data-end=\"524\">the position of the drone,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"527\" data-end=\"543\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"529\" data-end=\"543\">its altitude,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"546\" data-end=\"571\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"548\" data-end=\"571\">the direction in which it is flying,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"574\" data-end=\"617\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"576\" data-end=\"617\">and possible obstacles or hazards.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"848\" data-end=\"851\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"619\" data-end=\"672\">\u274c <strong>What is not considered a sight flight<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"673\" data-end=\"887\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"673\" data-end=\"786\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"786\">If the drone passes behind a building, tree or hill <strong>and disappears from direct view<\/strong>, it is no longer flying in <strong>VLOS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"787\" data-end=\"887\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"789\" data-end=\"887\">If you only monitor it through its camera or controller screen &#8211; it also <strong>does not meet the requirement.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox us_custom_7e20fa79 us_animate_this iconpos_left style_default color_primary align_left no_text\"><div class=\"w-iconbox-icon\" style=\"font-size:2rem;\"><i class=\"fas fa-line-height\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox-meta\"><h5 class=\"w-iconbox-title\">Maximum altitude: 120 meters (above the ground below the drone)<\/h5><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs us_custom_2ad99fe7 style_default switch_click accordion type_togglable has_scrolling\" style=\"--sections-title-size:inherit\"><div class=\"w-tabs-sections titles-align_none icon_plus cpos_right\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"x7a8\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-x7a8\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Review the requirements<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-x7a8\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p class=\"\" data-start=\"189\" data-end=\"568\">This restriction applies to the <strong>Open Category<\/strong> and is intended to ensure safety and avoid conflicts with other aircraft.<br \/>According to Regulation (EU) 2019\/947, a drone <strong>must not fly more than 120 metres above the ground immediately below it<\/strong>, regardless of altitude or take-off point. This is not to be confused with the <strong>technical specifications<\/strong> of some drones, which have maximum flight altitudes of <strong>5000 metres above sea level<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"570\" data-end=\"573\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"575\" data-end=\"598\">\u2705 <strong>What is required<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"599\" data-end=\"935\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"599\" data-end=\"711\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"601\" data-end=\"711\">The maximum permissible height of the drone is <strong>120 meters above the terrain below the drone at any time during the flight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"712\" data-end=\"813\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"714\" data-end=\"813\">This means that if you are flying over flat terrain, you should not rise more than 120 m above the ground.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"814\" data-end=\"935\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"816\" data-end=\"935\">If you&#8217;re flying in a mountainous area or on a slope, you can keep the drone <strong>120 m above the sloping terrain as you move<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"937\" data-end=\"940\" \/>\n<p data-start=\"942\" data-end=\"969\">\u274c <strong>What is not allowed<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"970\" data-end=\"1311\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"970\" data-end=\"1162\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"972\" data-end=\"1162\">Taking off from the bottom of a hill (0 m) and rising to 320 m to reach the top (200 m) and another 120 m up &#8211; <strong>this exceeds the allowable height relative to the terrain below the drone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1163\" data-end=\"1311\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1165\" data-end=\"1311\">Taking off from a building, tower or hill and going 120+ feet above it &#8211; <strong>unless it&#8217;s a special mission with consent and under certain conditions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox us_custom_7e20fa79 us_animate_this iconpos_left style_default color_primary align_left no_text\"><div class=\"w-iconbox-icon\" style=\"font-size:2rem;\"><i class=\"fas fa-users-slash\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox-meta\"><h5 class=\"w-iconbox-title\">Flying over people is prohibited unless the drone meets specific conditions<\/h5><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs us_custom_2ad99fe7 style_default switch_click accordion type_togglable has_scrolling\" style=\"--sections-title-size:inherit\"><div class=\"w-tabs-sections titles-align_none icon_plus cpos_right\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"ta6d\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-ta6d\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Review the requirements<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-ta6d\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p class=\"\" data-start=\"122\" data-end=\"472\">In the Open Category, flying over non-participants is severely restricted for safety purposes. According to <strong>Regulation (EU) 2019\/947<\/strong>, only certain drones in subcategory <strong>A1<\/strong> are allowed to fly over people &#8211; and only under certain conditions.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"474\" data-end=\"477\" \/>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"479\" data-end=\"504\">\u2705 <strong>What is required<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"505\" data-end=\"846\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"505\" data-end=\"673\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"507\" data-end=\"552\">To fly <strong>over people<\/strong>, the drone must be:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"555\" data-end=\"673\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"555\" data-end=\"578\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"557\" data-end=\"578\">in subcategory <strong>A1<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"581\" data-end=\"609\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"583\" data-end=\"609\"><strong>weighing less than 250g,<\/strong> or<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"673\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"614\" data-end=\"673\">be labelled <strong>C0<\/strong> or <strong>C1<\/strong> according to the new standards<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"846\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"677\" data-end=\"691\">Even in A1:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"694\" data-end=\"846\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"694\" data-end=\"745\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"696\" data-end=\"745\"><strong>Deliberately flying over groups of people is not allowed<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"748\" data-end=\"846\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"750\" data-end=\"846\">Flights should be conducted in such a way as <strong>to avoid flying over people<\/strong> whenever possible<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"848\" data-end=\"851\" \/>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"853\" data-end=\"882\">\u274c <strong>What is not allowed<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"883\" data-end=\"1128\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"883\" data-end=\"971\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"971\">Flying a drone in subcategory <strong>A2<\/strong> or <strong>A3<\/strong> over people &#8211; <strong>this is absolutely forbidden<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"972\" data-end=\"1041\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"974\" data-end=\"1041\">To <strong>deliberately fly over groups of people<\/strong>, even with a light A1 drone<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1042\" data-end=\"1128\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1044\" data-end=\"1128\">Using a <strong>drone weighing more than 250 g<\/strong> <strong>that does not have a C1 marking<\/strong> near people<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox us_custom_7e20fa79 us_animate_this iconpos_left style_default color_primary align_left no_text\"><div class=\"w-iconbox-icon\" style=\"font-size:2rem;\"><i class=\"fas fa-ban\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"w-iconbox-meta\"><h5 class=\"w-iconbox-title\">It is prohibited to fly in restricted areas (airports, military sites, etc.)<\/h5><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><div class=\"w-tabs us_custom_2ad99fe7 style_default switch_click accordion type_togglable has_scrolling\" style=\"--sections-title-size:inherit\"><div class=\"w-tabs-sections titles-align_none icon_plus cpos_right\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section\" id=\"bcf4\"><button class=\"w-tabs-section-header\" aria-controls=\"content-bcf4\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-title\">Review the requirements<\/div><div class=\"w-tabs-section-control\"><\/div><\/button><div  class=\"w-tabs-section-content\" id=\"content-bcf4\"><div class=\"w-tabs-section-content-h i-cf\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p class=\"\" data-start=\"320\" data-end=\"640\">There are areas with airspace restrictions <strong>where drone flights are not allowed<\/strong> unless there is prior approval. Such areas include <strong>airports, military sites, restricted airspace and other sensitive locations.<\/strong><br \/>The official list of geographical areas with restrictions on drone flights in <strong>Bulgaria<\/strong> is published on the website of the <strong>Civil Aviation Administration (CAA).<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"848\" data-end=\"851\" \/>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"647\" data-end=\"672\">\u2705 <strong>What is required:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"673\" data-end=\"1034\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"673\" data-end=\"793\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"793\">Before the flight, <strong>be sure to check the restriction map<\/strong> (official sources of <strong>DG CAA<\/strong> or just use the <strong>Pre-flight Preparation Steps<\/strong> which integrate the most important pre-flight requirements to be followed <a href=\"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/safety\/fly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"794\" data-end=\"933\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"796\" data-end=\"933\">Flights <strong>within restricted\/controlled airspace<\/strong> are only allowed with special permission from the relevant authorities (also an integrated step)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"934\" data-end=\"1034\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"936\" data-end=\"1034\">Observe designated <strong>No Fly Zones<\/strong> and temporary restrictions (e.g. events, fires, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"848\" data-end=\"851\" \/>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1041\" data-end=\"1070\">\u274c <strong>What is not allowed<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1071\" data-end=\"1416\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1071\" data-end=\"1206\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1073\" data-end=\"1206\">Flying a drone <strong>near airports, military bases, energy infrastructure or special access sites<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1416\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1416\">Ignoring a designated <strong>restricted area<\/strong>, even if the drone is small or flies for a short time<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_medium\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The drone should always remain within sight of the pilotReview the requirementsThis requirement is valid for Open Category flights where the drone must be in the pilot&#8217;s field of view at all times. This requirement is called VLOS (Visual Line of Sight). \u2705 What is required: The pilot should always see the drone with the...","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12206,"parent":12907,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-12945","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12945"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13083,"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12945\/revisions\/13083"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/12907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bulgariadropview.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}