The number of drones approved by Austro Control (ACG) has increased sixfold since 2015. At that time, 410 devices were approved; as of July 20, 2020, 1.289 applications have already been received this year. A new EU directive that was postponed due to the corona should now make everything easier and, in particular, cheaper.

Aviation State Secretary Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) and ACG Managing Director Valerie Hackl explained the implementation of EU Regulation 2019/947, which will come into force on December 31, 2020, in the premises of the Ministry of Transport. The core of this is also a "driver's license" that must be obtained.

The "drone license" is the basic requirement for such an unnamed aircraft over 250 grams in weight to be flown. First of all, an online course must be completed in self-study. Afterwards, a multiple-choice exam (30 questions) must also be taken on the Internet. If this is positive, the "driver's license" will be handed out. This is a PDF document that, according to Valerie Hackl, contains all the relevant data and is valid across the EU. This “license” must always be carried with you when operating the drone. According to ACG boss Hackl, the online course and the test to obtain the “driver's license” are free. It is possible to take the online exam again, there is no limit to how often you can "fail".

So far, drones that weigh more than 250 grams have to be approved in Austria. This includes the unmanned aerial vehicle as a toy, formerly also known as a “remote-controlled helicopter”. As of December 31, 2020, there will be no approval requirement. What is new is that the drones must be registered and the operator receives a unique operator number that must be attached to the aircraft. The registration requirement also applies to drones that have already been approved. Only the driver's license does not have to be acquired. Several drones can also be registered per operator. The fees that must be paid to the ACG for registering the drone are 28 euros.

The new provisions are aimed primarily at "hobby pilots" and are intended to simplify their use within the Union area. The “driver's license” acquired in Austria and the registration are then valid throughout the European Union, so that there are no more problems, for example on vacation. According to Magnus Brunner, the license is valid for five years and then has to be renewed. 

The simplifications presented by Hackl and Brunner apply to the “Open” category. These are drones weighing up to 25 kilograms. According to Hackl, this would cover around 80 percent of the drones operated in Austria. The categories “specific” and “certified” remain subject to approval. These are heavy drones or those with special capabilities.

Valerie Hackl put the previous costs for the individual approval of drones in the future “Open” category at around 300 euros. In the future, only 28 euros will be charged for registration, which can then be carried out online from autumn. Magnus Brunner believes that the sharp drop in costs will also help new applications, for example in agriculture and forestry, contribute to the growth of the industry.

However, both Hackl and Brunner pointed out that disregarding the regulations still constitutes an administrative violation and can be punished by the district administrative authorities - not the ACG. If you let your drone fly in a no-fly zone, for example near an airport, there is also a risk of criminal prosecution. The “drone driving license” is therefore intended to ensure that the operator has the necessary knowledge and uses the unmanned aerial vehicle responsibly. According to Hackl, the range of penalties in administrative law is up to 22.000 euros.