Open category: overview

The contents of this website refer to legal bases which have not entered into force.

This page provides a comprehensive overview of the most important elements to consider when flying your drone in the ‘open’ category.

I respect the 6 basic rules

• I am aware of the Swiss national and cantonal territorial restrictions
• I always maintain visual contact with my drone
• I do not fly my drone over assemblies of people
• I do not fly my drone above a height of 120 metres above ground level
• I respect the privacy of others
• I have sufficient insurance

I am of the specified minimum age

All drone pilots are subject to the fundamental obligation to register. Exception: my drone weighs under 250 g and is not equipped with a camera, sensor or any other device capable of recording personal data.

I am registered

All drone pilots are subject to the fundamental obligation to register. Exception: My drone weighs under 250g and is not equipped with a camera, sensor or any other device capable of recording personal data.

I fly a compliant drone

My drone must have both a CE and a class marking (C1, C2, C3, C4), the latter being the determining factor in which subcategory I fly my drone (A1, A2, A3). If my drone does not have both of these markings, I fall into the transitional limited open category. Slightly limited rules apply to me in this case.

In the case of self-constructed drones, special rules apply. See chapter IV in the FAQ "May I fly a drone that I have made myself?”

I have completed the online training and exam appropriate to my subcategory

If I fly a drone which weighs over 250 g, I am required to complete online training and testing on the official training and testing platform UAS.gate. The amount of training and testing depends on the subcategory (A1, A2, A3) in which I fly my drone.

The certificate obtained (proof of completion of online training/remote pilot certificate of competency) is decisive for how close I am allowed to fly my drone to uninvolved persons. The remote pilot certificate entails more work (+30 questions and practical training) than the competence certificate but includes authorisation to fly drones under the operating conditions of subcategories A1, A2 and A3.

Requirements for drones with the CE marking and class identification label

Subcategory	Class	Weight	Training	Safety distance
A1	C0	<250g	not necessary	Areas in which, after reasonable assessment, the conclusion may be drawn that no uninvolved persons will be flown over
A1	C0, C1	<900g	Proof of completion of online training	Areas in which, after reasonable assessment, the conclusion may be drawn that no uninvolved persons will be flown over
A2	C2	<4kg	Remote pilot certificate of competency	For holders of a remote pilot certificate of competency, the minimum horizontal distance is reduced to 30 m
A3	C1, C2, C3	<25kg	Proof of completion of online training	Maintain a minimum horizontal distance of 150 m from residential/commercial/industrial and recreational areas

*To fly a C2-class drone in subcategory A2, you need a remote pilot certificate, presuming the drone weighs less than 4kg. If instead you obtain only a competence certificate, you can fly your drone under the operating conditions of subcategory A3.

Further information

Legislation

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945

Contact

The FOCA is available to answer any questions.

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