Drone Laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Summary of Drone Laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Communications and Transport – Directorate of Civil Aviation (BHDCA)

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UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Bosnia and Herzegovina agency responsible for drone safety, BHDCA, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details go to the link above.

Are drones allowed in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

According to BHDCA, drone operations are allowed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, subject to regulations provided by the BHDCA. Read on for more details.

Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

1. The provisions of this Rulebook apply to drones with a maximum take-off mass of 249 g up to 25 kg.
2. Drones with a maximum take-off mass greater than 25 kg require special BHDCA approval;
3. Categories of drone operations: non-commercial (OPEN), commercial (SPECIFIC), and aerial work (CERTIFIED);
4. Drone categories: A1 (249 g – 1 kg), A2 (1 kg – 2 kg), A3 (2 kg – 5 kg), and A4 (5 kg – 25 kg);
5. Basic rules for non-commercial operations (OPEN):
   • a) drones shall be flown only during daylight hours and within the visual line of sight of the drone operator;
   • b) The maximum permissible altitude for drone operation is up to 30 m AGL (above ground level);
   • c) the lateral distance from people, animals, structures, vehicles, vessels, roads, railways, waterways, power transmission lines, etc. must be at least 30 m. Flying over people is not permitted.
   • d) the lateral distance from a public gathering must be at least 50 m;
   • e) it is not permitted to fly a drone at a lateral distance of less than 500 m from industrial zones, embassies, government facilities, and institutions, as well as other public buildings;
   • f) all drones with a mass greater than 1 kg shall require a valid insurance policy that covers damage to third parties in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
   • g) it is not permitted to fly a drone from within a protection area located 300 m from the border in the depth of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina unless the drone operator or drone owner has obtained the prior consent of the B&H Border Police.
6. Basic rules for commercial operations (SPECIFIC)
   • a) drone operations in daylight conditions shall be carried out within the operator’s visual line of sight, where the drone operator must be familiar with the environment in which he/she operates the drone, designate a dedicated landing site, and mark it visibly (in the case of autonomous landing). If the drone operations are carried out beyond the visual line of sight, the lateral distance must not exceed 1000 m from the drone operator.
   • b) for operations at night, the drone must be equipped with light-signaling devices, it must be flown only within the visual line of sight, the dedicated landing site must be in the immediate vicinity of the drone operator (in the case of autonomous landing), and the maximum altitude shall not exceed 30 m AGL. It is not allowed to fly a drone over a group of people, important buildings, and the like.
   • c) Drone operators must have a valid drone insurance policy that covers damage to third parties on the ground in Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of the drone’s mass.
   • d) The minimum lateral distance from people, animals, structures, vehicles, vessels, roads, railways, waterways, power transmission lines, or other remotely piloted aircraft must be at least 30 m.
   • e) when flying a drone, drone operators unable to adhere to the prescribed lateral distances referred to in point d) due to the environment and surrounding obstacles may fly the drone at a smaller lateral distance, but not smaller than 5 m. In comparison, the flight altitude must not exceed 20 m AGL.
   • f) A drone’s maximum permissible flight altitude is up to 120 m AGL or 50 m above an obstacle.
   • g) the lateral distance from industrial zones, embassies, government facilities and institutions, and other public buildings must not be less than 100 m.
   • h) drones may be operated within an airport area at a distance of less than 1.5 km from the airport or CTR zone, only with the prior consent of the competent Air Traffic Control or Airspace Management Cell (AMC), and the drone operator shall be obligated to comply with the terms of the consent.
   • i) it is not permitted to fly a drone from within a protection area located 300 m from the border in the depth of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina unless the drone operator or drone owner has obtained the prior consent of the B&H Border Police.
7. Basic rules for aerial work performed by drones (CERTIFIED)
   • Before commencing drone operations, the drone operator must contact the BHDCA at dron@bhdca.gov.ba to obtain special approval for performing aerial work by drones in the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
8. Any drones under the responsibility of foreign institutions (army, police, customs, and other similar organizations) must obtain approval from the competent institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina before conducting drone operations.

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Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Bosnia and Herzegovina

See the general rules above.

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Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina

See the general rules above.

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Useful published information on flying drones in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Bosnia and Herzegovina…

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NOTE: This page is about the Regulation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS), Small UAS, Remote Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and drone are interchangeable terms unless specified. Model Aircraft, toy, remote-controlled, and RC aircraft may be covered by the same regulations unless specified.

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Traveling with a Drone?

Click here to read our Comprehensive Guide For Traveling With A Drone.

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