š In this blog post weāll share all drone law links & known rules about recreational & commercial drone use in Czech Republic (Prague). Give a š at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in the Czech Republic Drone Discussion Group. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
Recreational vs Commercial drone use in Czech Republic
Czech Republic differentiates commercial & recreational drone uses. Both are subject to restrictions & a code of conduct.
ā In Czech Republic, drone laws fall under management of the Czech Republic Civil Aviation Authorisation (CAA) & they can be contacted via:
An online form
(+420) 225 421 111
ā Czech Republic will differentiate your drone based on its weight:
Below 910 g
Between 910 g & 7 kg
Between 7 kg & 20 kg
Above 20 kg
Can I bring my drone to Czech Republic?
ā Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Czech Republic (Prague) as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
šØ Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
š” Smart! Get your drone batteries' firecase today and make sure you're complying with aviation safety rules.
Where can I fly my drone in Czech Republic?
ā Czech Republic built a detailed drone flight map showing flight restricted areas for recreational use mainly. The map is organised in a color scheme & symbols to help drone owners to fly responsibly & safely within Czech Republic:
Red = Prohibited Area
Orange = Restricted Area
ā The live version of the map can also display many other features such as gliding, sky diving activities and weather forecast. This is one of the most complete maps we've seen! *Note that the below screenshot show a restricted fly height of 300 m & with a drone weighting more than 910 g, you can select 100 m or a view for drones weighting less than 910 g which offers you a little more space to enjoy.
Czech Republic Drone Fly Map
š The recommended browsers to use this map are: Internet Explorer 11 (or higher), Mozilla Firefox 45.0 (or higher), Google Chrome 49.0 (or higher); your web browser must contain JavaScript support.
ā For any questions about the drone fly map; you can contact aisview@ans.cz
šØ You should not fly above or near borders, traffic, engineering & water resources structures, telecommunication networks, borders of specially protected areas &military buildings.
š¦ National parks & reserves are on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the park or reserve authorities (note they are not represented on this map). We're aware that you cannot fly below 300 m in these National Parks:
Elbe Sandstone Mountains
The Bohemian Forest
The Giant Mountains
Thayatal in South Bohemia
š” Smart! Pack some spare drone batteries, you never know how close is the next power plug overseas. Also make sure you have a travel adaptor for Czech Republic.
Recreational Drone use in Czech Republic
ā Good things first, you will not need a license to fly your drone for recreational use in Czech Republic as long as you keep your flight away from a restricted flight zone & fly with a drone weighting less than 20 kg
Saying this, within the Czech Republic permitted zones, you will need to follow a few rules:
for drones 910 g+, mark it with your contact details on a fireproof identification label.
fly your drone at a maximum of 300 m above ground or water (100 m in restricted areas is tolerated for drone less than 910 g).
fly a drone that weights less than 20 kg (above you will need an insurance covering your for about 1 Million ā¬ & an extra operator to look after the drone during flight).
fly at least 5.5 km away from airports & give priority to all other categories of aircraft. If you see an aircraft during your flight, land immediately.
do not carry or drop anything from your drone while flying.
do not fly near a natural disaster or somewhere emergencies will need to intervene.
maintain a log book containing date of flight, your name, your drone's registration mark, location of take-off & landing, flight time & total flight time, type of operation & any potential safety-related occurrence.
fly your drone away from people (500 m at take off/landing) or crowds (150 m) unless consent from the people or the organiser & respect individuals' privacy.
fly your drone only during daylight, away from clouds (300 m vertically below and/or 1.5 km horizontally) & always in sight.
š For flight competitions, you will need an insurance covering you:
at least for 10,000 ā¬ if your drone weights less than 910 g
at least 40,000 ā¬ if your drone weights less than 910 g & 7 kg
at least 120,000ā¬ if your drone weights between 7 & 20 kg
about 1 Million ā¬ if your drone weights more than 20 kg
If your drone weights more than 910 g,
you will need a drone equipped with a system to intervene in the management of the flight & have the capacity to terminate the flight if needed.
you will need to perform a pre-flight check to ensure safety for all.
š” The Mavic Pro, Spark and Mavic Air drones weight less than 910 g so you will be exempt from some of the requirements.
How to obtain a permit to fly within restricted zones in Czech Republic?
šØ You can obtain permissions & derogation to fly in restricted zones or higher here. But be aware that this will be good only if you have a permanent residence in the Czech Republic.
š Allow 30 days to process the request, 60 days in complex cases.
What do I risk for flying a recreational drone illegally in Czech Republic?
šØ The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such. Fines can go up to 185,000ā¬
Commercial Drone use in Czech Republic
šØ Before anything, you must have a permanent residence or a legal entity headquartered in the Czech Republic to obtain a license.
ā Czech Republic requires you to have a license as a drone pilot to undertake any flight with a drone weighting more than 20 kg or of commercial purpose. Once you got your license, you will need to follow all the rues of the recreational use.
How to obtain my drone license for commercial use in Czech Republic?
ā To be eligible, you will need a valid Health Certificate (Class 3 Medical Certificate) & a drone operations insurance covering you up to 1 Million ā¬ for third party damage.
A drone license is issued in Czech Republic is subject to an application done online (available in Czech only). You will need to undertake a theoretical and a practical exam.
š² The total license cost should come around 1,000ā¬
š Expect about 3 months to complete. For license renewals, contact them between 30 days & 12 month prior expiry date.
What do I risk for flying a commercial drone illegally in Czech Republic?
šØ The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction. Fines can go up to 185,000ā¬
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Czech Republic's awesome landscapes & create videos like this one:
ā Please leave a comment when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Czech Republic! Have fun & safe flight! #czechrepublic #czech #regulation #rule #rules #law #laws #legislation
š” You're a local, have a question or want to share a travel experience? Head to our Czech Republic Drone Discussion Group
Disclaimer: Although greatĀ care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authoritiesĀ for needed information about local drone rules and regulations.
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