If you have a drone weighing less than 250 grams and you want to use it in Romania without any legal problems, you need to know the rules imposed by Romanian Civil Aviation Authority (AACR). Even though these drones are considered less dangerous than larger drones, they must be used in accordance with European and national laws.
In this guide, we explain the essential steps to legally fly a drone under 250g in Romania.
Video Credits: RusuCTech
1. What does the law say about drones under 250g?
In the European Union, drones are regulated under EU Regulation 2019/947 and EU Regulation 2019/945The implementation of these rules in Romania is supervised by the AACR.
Drones under 250 g fall under open category - subcategory A1, which means:
✔️ No pilot license required
✔️ Can be used in inhabited areasbut must avoid putting people at risk
✔️ Must not exceed an altitude of 120 meters
However, there are important obligations to respect.
2. Do you have to register your drone?
It depends on the characteristics of the drone:
- If your drone has a video camera or other recording equipment, you must register as a UAS operator on the AACR platform (https://www.caa.ro).
- If no camera, registration is not required.
After registration, you will receive a unique operator number that you need to stick visibly on the drone.
3. Need a course or exam?
For drones under 250 g that are in subcategory A1 and which do not exceed 19 m/s, no pilot certificate required.
However, it is recommended that you take the free course offered by the AACR to better understand the rules of flying.
4. Where are you allowed to fly a drone?
🟢 Permitted zone:
✔️ Outside cities or sensitive areas (airports, military bases)
✔️ In recreational areas or open spaces where you are not endangering people
🔴 No zones without approval:
❌ Less than 5 km from airports
❌ Above crowds or public events
❌ In protected areas or areas of national security
You can check permitted flying zones on the EASA Geozone UAS or on the AACR website.
5. Essential safety rules
🔹 Respect the 120 m altitude limit
🔹 Avoid flying over people or buildings
🔹 Don't fly over public roads
🔹 Do not fly in bad weather (fog, rain, strong wind)
🔹 Always keep the drone in your field of vision
If you want to do commercial flights (e.g. filming for clients), you need to follow additional rules and seek approval from the AACR.
Conclusion
If you have a drone under 250g, the rules are more relaxed, but that doesn't mean you can fly anywhere, anyhow. Registering as an operator (if you have a camera), staying within the permitted zones and being safe in use are essential.
Always check the updated rules on the website AACR and enjoy safe flights! 🚀
