Ireland

UAS regulations

Update: 2020 (harmonised regulations for EASA Member States)

On 28 February 2019 the EASA Committee has given its positive vote to the European Commission’s proposal for an Implementing Act regulating the operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the open and specific categories. This proposal is mainly based on EASA’s Opinion No 01/2018 [ https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/opinions/opinion-012018 ].

On 11 June 2019 common European rules on drones, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 [ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2019/945/oj ]& Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 [ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/947/oj ], have been published to ensure drone operations across Europe are safe and secure. The rules will amongst others help to protect the safety and the privacy of EU citizens while enabling the free circulation of drones and a level playing field within the European Union.
 
A major milestone in the regulation of operations of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in Europe was achieved on 10th October 2019 with the publication of the Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance materials (GM )  [ https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/agency-decisions/ed-decision-2019021r ] for the Regulation on UAS operations in the open and specific category.
With the publication, EASA will support UAS operators and Member States in complying with the adopted EU regulation. The document includes the description of a risk assessment methodology to evaluate the danger of an UAS operation and to identify mitigation measures to make the operation safe.
The methodology for conducting a risk assessment of the operations in the specific category is called SORA (Specific Operation Risk Assessment) and offers a very structured approach to evaluate all aspects and identify mitigations and safety objectives.

The timeframe for the European changes is listed here [ https://www.easa.europa.eu/drones-regulatory-framework-timeline ] and may change due COVID-19
 
All other related documents can be found here :[  https://www.easa.europa.eu/latest-news?news_cat[]=2204&  ]  (e.g. Opinion “Standard scenarios for UAS operations in the ‘specific’ category”; Opinion 01/2020 - High-level regulatory framework for the U-space; ).

Until the EASA changes are implemented, regulations for individual Member States can be found here:  https://dronerules.eu/en/professional/regulations

Irish regulations: https://dronerules.eu/en/professional/regulations/ireland

[LATEST UPDATE: May 2020, David Guerin; the information below may not be up to date and will be incorrect after EASA standardised rules come into effect.] Permit to Fly is granted by NAA, based on specific national rules, possibly on a case-to-case basis& for a limited duration.

https://www.iaa.ie/docs/default-source/default-document-library/drones-questions-and-answers-16-11-17.pdf?sfvrsn=3da404f3_2

The Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) and Rockets Order, 2015 (SI 563 of 2015) contains a number of limitations for the operation of drones. These include never operating a drone:

• if it will be a hazard to another aircraft in flight

• over an assembly of people - 12 persons or more

• farther than 300m from the person operating the drone

• within 30m of any person, vessel or structure not under the control of the person operating the drone

• closer than 5km from an aerodrome

• in a negligent or reckless manner so as to endanger life or property of others

• over 400ft (120m) above ground level

• over urban areas

• in civil or military controlled airspace

• in restricted areas (e.g. military installations, prisons, etc.)

• unless the person operating the drone has permission from the landowner for take-off and landing.

If you wish to fly your drone outside the limits prescribed in the regulations you must apply for a Specific Operating Permission (SOP) from the IAA following training with one of the IAA Registered Training Facilities (RTF). Please see www.iaa.ie/rtf for a list of training facilities.

All drones over 1kg and drones operated above 15m (50ft), must be registered with the IAA. This includes the weight of the battery and all attached equipment. You can register your drone via the IAA website at www.iaa.ie/drones