As soon as one or more of the rules of the open category cannot be complied with or the take-off weight of the drone is higher than 25kg, authorisation is required to operate a drone. The drone then falls under the specific category.
Information on flying your drone
Processing time
We would like to inform applicants and operators in the specific category that, due to the high volume of requests, the current processing time for authorizations is longer than usual. Please take this into account when planning your applications and operations. We thank you for your understanding.
The following presentation gives an overview of this category:
The following procedures are available to apply for an operational authorisation:
The decision tree presented in the document below gives an overview of the different conditions applicable for each authorisation type.
Instructions for writing an Operations Manual (OM)
The Operations Manual (OM) serves as the basis for any request for an Operational Authorisation in the Specific category. An OM is approved only if it demonstrates that all identified risks are tolerable and operational safety objectives are met based a Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) or a Pre-defined Risk Assessment (PDRA).The OM should not only describe the operation, but also provide insight into the operator’s operational safety culture. It should also include how and when to interact with additional parties/organizations (e.g., Airport Authorities, ANSP).
Please find below FOCA's "Guidance to elaborate an Operations Manual" (FOCA-UAS-GM-OM) that is designed to be used in combination with the empty “Operations Manual Template” (FOCA-UAS-APP-OM).
The goal is to guide applicants to provide the necessary information for submitting an OM as part of an application for an operational authorization, i.e. together with SORA or a PDRA application form.
Further guidance:
Notice of modification of authorized opperations
If you wish to report an operational or technical change to operations already authorised by the FOCA, please use the following form to extend your authorisation to this change.
Further information
Last modification 15.04.2025
