Agencies Responsible for regulating drones in the Kingdom of Norway
Drone Regulator in Norway: Civil Aviation Authority Norway (CAAN)
EU Nations Drone Regulator and regulations: European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
For a full explanation of EASA regulations simplified, please read our explainer: The rules for drone flyers in the European Union (Europe Drone Laws Simplified)
UAS Laws – General rules for flying drones in Norway
The Norwegian agency responsible for drone safety, CAAN, has provided several internet-accessible details on flying drones for fun or work. The highlights are enumerated below. For more details, go to the links above.
Flying and operating drones in Norway are subject to European Union Regulation 2019/947. The Civil Aviation Authority Norway (CAAN) supervises and implements the Regulation in Norway. This reform aims to create a truly harmonized drone market in Europe with the highest level of safety. In practice, it means that once a drone Οperator has received authorization from its state of registry, they will be allowed to circulate in the European Union freely. According to the level of risk involved, this new legal framework will introduce three categories of drone operations: Open, Specific, and Certified.
Drone operations are to be conducted according to the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (as amended).
Are drones allowed in Norway?
Here are the most important rules to know for flying a drone in Norway:
Drone operators must register all drones in Norway. Following registration, you must adhere to the following rules.
- Drones may fly up to 50 meters (170 feet) above ground or sea level in the Open category and up to 120 meters (400 feet) in the Specific category. (The CAAN may grant exemptions to operators of specific category drones.)
- Direct visual contact with the drone is required, and the operating distance should not exceed 500 meters.
- Avoid flying too close to residential areas or populated areas.
- Maintain a safety buffer zone of one kilometer around residential areas.
- Unless the owner/person consents, a safety distance of 500 meters from isolated buildings, people, vehicles, animals, and structures is required.
- Avoid flying near airports and heliports. Stay A minimum of eight (8) kilometers away from airports and three (3) kilometers from heliports for safety.
- At no time is it permissible to fly a drone at night.
- There shall be no flying over, within, or near military installations, public utility installations, archaeological sites, or public or private facilities.
Open Category
Given the low level of risk, neither prior authorization by the competent authority nor a declaration by the drone operator is required. The drone’s total takeoff mass must be less than 25kg and operate within a visual line of sight at a maximum altitude of 120m.
Specific Category
Considering the moderate level of risk involved, flights in this category require authorization before the operation. The permission is given considering the mitigation measures identified in an operational risk assessment, except in specific standard scenarios where an operator declaration is sufficient.
Certified Category
Given the inherent dangers, certification of the drone and a licensed remote pilot are required. If your drone can carry people, you fall under the Certified category!
EASA Summary of Drone Flight Operation Requirements
Note for foreign operators
Operator Registration (Non-EU Residents)
- If you are coming from a non-EU country and this is the first time you will fly your drone in an EU country, you MUST register as an Operator.
- Upon registration, you will receive a unique Operator Registration number which you MUST attach to your drone. If you have several drones, the same number must be attached to them.
- You are not allowed to fly in NO FLY ZONES, and you must keep a minimum of 8km distance from airports/heliports.
- If you have already conducted operations in another EU country before going to Norway, you must not register again. You always register to the first non-EU country you have conducted flights.
Remote Pilot Certificate (Non-EU Residents)
- If you want to fly your drone in Norway and live in a non-EU country, you must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate from an EU country.
- You can get the A1/A3 Certificate by registering with the online Remote Pilot School.
- The online training and exam are required for those who want to fly a drone in the ‘Open’ category in subcategories A1/A3.
- The pass mark is 75%, and you have three tries to pass.
- Once you pass your exam, you will receive your remote pilot certificate. Its validity will be five years.
- You must have your Remote Pilot Certificate when planning drone operations in Norway and present it when the authorities ask.
How to register as a drone pilot or operator in Norway?
According to European Regulation (EU) 2019/947, registration is mandatory for UAS operators (not for UAS themselves).
The UAS Pilot, also known as the Remote Pilot (RP), is the person physically behind the UAS flight controls. They are fully responsible for the safety of the flight throughout operations.
The UAS Operator is the person or company who oversees operations and gives flight instructions. This person or legal entity bears all responsibility for the operations of the drone (s) on their behalf. Very often, in the OPEN category and as individuals, the Pilot and the Operator are the same person.
Who should register?
As part of the OPEN category, registration is compulsory for operators:
- UAS that has a mass of 250 g or more;
- UAS that has a mass of less than 250 g but:
- can operate at speeds greater than 90km / h
- are equipped with a camera or a microphone, if these UAS are NOT toys *
* A UAS is a toy when a manufacturer intends it for children under 14 and meets the minimum safety criteria required to be so named. Compliance with these standards naturally limits the capabilities of the UAS (size, weight, non-dangerous spare parts, no powerful motor, etc.): see Directive 2009/48 / EC of 18 June 2009 on the safety of toys
Under the SPECIFIC category, registration is compulsory for all operators.
Natural persons can only register in the country where they reside.
Legal persons must register in the country where their principal place of business is located.
Registration can only be done in one Member State at a time.
How do you register in Norway for drone operations?
The operator registration procedure is available at flydrone.no
This UAS operator registration number is valid for one year and must be renewed periodically following the same procedure. Therefore, the operator always uses the same number unless the latter is permanently deregistered from the register.
Notes for recreational drone pilots flying for fun in Norway
See the general rules above.
Notes for operating Commercial Drone Services in Norway
To conduct commercial activities in Norway, you must notify and register with the CAAN. Additional requirements vary according to the nature of your intended operations. Commercial operations are classified as RO 1, RO 2, and RO 3.
Requirements for RO 1 Operations
An RO 1 operation is one in which an aircraft with a maximum take-off mass (MTOM) of up to 2.5 kg and a top speed of 60 knots operates exclusively within visual line of sight (VLOS) during daylight hours within specified safety distances.
- The operator must notify the CAA of their operations and declare their commitment to following applicable regulations. Email the declaration to postmottak@caa.no. Your name, address, and contact information should be included in the declaration, as well as information about the type of aircraft that will be used.
- Additional requirements for RO 1 operations include the presence of an accountable operations manager who is at least 16 years old, the use of an operations manual, the maintenance of a flight log, adherence to the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions, and marking the aircraft with the operator’s name and telephone number.
Requirements for RO 2 Operations
An RO 2 undertaking is an aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kg and a top speed of 80 knots for VLOS or EVLOS operations during daylight hours and within specified safety distances or for BLOS operations.
- Before commencing operations, RO 2 operators must obtain a license from the CAA Norway. In addition, risk analysis and an operations manual must accompany the application.
- To conduct a flight, the pilot or pilot in command must complete an online drone operator training course. Currently, the course is only available in Norwegian. The examination fee is 1010 NOK.
- RO 2 operations require the presence of an accountable operations manager who is at least 18 years old.
- Additionally, you will demonstrate an establishment of a quality system, the ability to demonstrate the aircraft’s airworthiness, the use of an operations manual, the maintenance of a flight log, the compliance with the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions, and the marking of the aircraft with the operator’s name and telephone number.
Requirements for RO 3 Operations
An RO 3 undertaking is one in which the aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 25 kg or more, has a top speed of 80 knots, is powered by a turbine engine, or will be used for BLOS operations at altitudes greater than 120 meters, or will operate in controlled airspace at altitudes greater than 120 meters, or will operate over or near crowds of people.
- Before commencing operations, RO 3 operators must obtain a license from the CAA Norway. In addition, risk analysis and an operations manual must accompany the application.
- To conduct a flight, the pilot or pilot in command must complete an online drone operator training course. Currently, the course is only available in Norwegian. The examination fee is 1010 NOK.
- RO 3 operations require the presence of an accountable operations manager who is at least 18 years old.
- Additionally, you must demonstrate an establishment of a quality system, the ability to demonstrate the aircraft’s airworthiness, the use of an operations manual, the maintenance of a flight log, the compliance with the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions, and the marking of the aircraft with the operator’s name and telephone number.
What you must know about Norway No Fly Zones or No Drone Zones
You need to know if you can operate your drone, under what limitations, whether authorizations are required, and how to get those authorizations.
We encourage you to read our explainer for more details on this topic here: Explainer – What You Must Know About No Fly Zones or No Drone Zones
Useful published information on flying drones in Norway
- Where you are allowed to fly a drone in Norway
- Register as drone operator in Norway
- Online drone pilot training and tests in Norway (TBD)
- Apply for an authorisation to fly in Norway
Here is a sample of what you might expect if you follow the drone laws and fly in Norway…
NOTE: 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?
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