Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 1
Three questions before every flight
The rules are EU rules, run in Estonia by Transpordiamet. You only need three answers.
250 g?
1
What am I flying?
Its weight, its label (C0…), and whether it has a camera.
2
Where?
Indoors or outdoors, how close to people and houses, and what the map says.
3
With whom?
Goggles on? Then an observer stands next to you. Under 16? A qualified pilot.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 2
Indoors: the drone rules don’t apply
The EU drone rules don’t cover flying indoors. That’s why we learn in the hall.
our hall, our rules
1
The hall
Indoors there are no zones, no height limit and no 150 m. The safest place to learn.
2
At home
A whoop in your room is fine. Props off on the bench, and mind the cat.
3
The owner decides
Indoors, the building’s rules apply. In our hall: club rules and the trainer.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 3
What you fly decides how close you may get
Outdoors, every drone flies in a subcategory. The drone decides which: its label, weight and how it was made.
A1: near people
over people: ok
over a crowd: never
C0 drones, and under 250 g if it’s home-built (slower than 19 m/s) or on sale before 2024 without a label.
A3: far from people
150 m
Home-built up to 25 kg (like our 5″ racers), no-label drones from before 2024, and C2–C4. At least 150 m from people, homes, shops, factories and parks.
Bought after 2024, no label, not home-built? It fits neither: fly it indoors and ask the trainer.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 4
Goggles on? Observer next to you
In goggles you can’t see the sky. So someone else has to, every single flight.
heli, go down!
1
Right next to you
Close enough to talk, so a warning reaches you at once.
2
Eyes on the drone and the sky
Watches the drone and scans for planes, helicopters and people.
3
Warns you straight away
And no binoculars: if they can’t see it with their own eyes, it’s too far.
4
You are still the pilot
The observer helps. The flight is your responsibility.
Transpordiamet: FPV in the open category follows the A3 rules, no spectators. Under 250 g the EU text may allow A1. Until that’s settled, fly FPV outdoors like A3: 150 m away, and with the A1/A3 test.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 5
Never above 120 m
Above 120 m is the sky of planes and helicopters. They can’t see you, and they can’t dodge.
120 m
Lower in many places
Near airports and heliports the limit can be 0 m. The map tells you.
Measured from the ground
From the nearest point of the ground or water, not from where you stand.
Racing? You’re low anyway
Gates, trees, bando. FPV racing happens in the first few metres.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 6
Check the map: utm.eans.ee
The droonikaart shows every zone in Estonia. Click your spot and it tells you the height and who to ask.
H
airport: 0 m near it
nature area
120 m
Before you plan, and right before you fly
Zones change. There’s an app too.
Airports, heliports, harbour
Tallinn is full of them. Near the airport: 0 m.
Security and nature zones
You need permission. Allow 5 working days.
It shows the rules, not good spots. Not on the map ≠ allowed.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 7
Your paperwork
Three things, all online at Transpordiamet. Our whoops have cameras, so their owners register too.
EST···········
A1/A3
16
1
Register as operator
The owner registers: camera, or 250 g and up. €10 a year. The ID goes on every drone.
2
Pass the A1/A3 test
Needed from 250 g, and for FPV outdoors (A3 rules). Online, 40 questions, €10, 5 years.
3
16, or with a coach
Under 16: fly next to a qualified pilot who supervises you. At HOBIzone, that’s the coach.
Register and take the test in LOIS (lois.transpordiamet.ee). Insurance: only above 20 kg, unless it’s a specific-category flight like a race.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 8
The sky has neighbours
Aviation rules are only part of it. Land, nature and people have rules too.
Whose land?
Ask the landowner before you take off. Zones have their own manager: the map shows who.
Nature areas
Protected areas need Keskkonnaamet’s permission. Birds don’t like drones.
Filming people
People have a right to privacy. Posting video online is not “just for me”.
Flying at night
Allowed, with a green flashing light switched on. Observer as always.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
11 · Where am I allowed to fly? · fig. 9
So where do we fly?
Three places where all of this is already sorted out for you.
1
The hall
Indoors, all winter. No zones, no 150 m. The trainer is there.
2
Kollane
Our outdoor field. Field code, observer, and a quick look at the map anyway.
3
Races
Spectators make it the specific category: a Transpordiamet permit, a designated area and insurance. We sort it out.
Anywhere else: answer the three questions, check the map, and when in doubt, don’t fly.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.
HOBIZONE.ORG
Remember
Check the drone, the place and the map.
1
Indoors: the EU drone rules don’t apply. The hall is where we learn.
2
A1 near people (C0, under 250 g). A3: 150 m from people, homes and parks.
3
Goggles on? Observer right next to you, every flight. FPV outdoors: fly it like A3.
4
Never above 120 m. Check utm.eans.ee before you plan and before you fly.
5
Camera or 250 g+: register. 250 g+ or FPV outdoors: A1/A3 test. Under 16: with a coach.
6
Ask the landowner, respect nature and privacy. In doubt? Don’t fly.
Free to use in your own trainings. Just tell people where you got it.