More than 94,000 drone operators registered in Spain

The State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) has taken stock of the drone sector in 2023, culminating with a total of 94,033 UAS operators registered on their database, 32% more than in 2022.

This figure reflects the exponential growth of the drone sector in Spain after the entry into force of the European UAS regulations (Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945) in January 2021. This regulation affects all drones, regardless its recreational or professional use or its size/weight. In addition, registration as an operator is required if a series of requirements are met and declaring the aircraft if it is flown in the medium risk category.

The evolution of this sector is being so favourable, not only because of the mandatory registration of recreational operators, but also because of the dynamization that this regulation has produced due to its greater flexibility. Likewise, it is precisely this flexibility, accompanied by technological development and regulatory support, that suggests more complex operations in the near future.

The three years that the current UAS regulation has been in force has been a turning point in promoting the sector, previously regulated, since 2018, by the national regulations of RD 1036/2017, which only required the registration of professional operators.

Of the 94,033 drone operators registered so far in AESA, the autonomous communities with the highest registration are: Andalusia (16,880 registered operators), Community of Madrid (15,804), Catalonia (11,308) and Valencian Community (9,112).

In relation to pilot training, since the entry into force of the new regulations, AESA has issued 182,867 training certificates to carry out UAS operations. With this, at least 95,620 pilots have received the most basic training for UAS operations (open category A1/A3). In addition, of the total number, AESA has issued around 43,000 theoretical certificates to operate in national standard scenarios (STS-ES). Practical training to operate in STS-ES is provided by entities recognised by AESA or declared operators.

Likewise, in terms of training entities, AESA currently has 508 recognised entities that provide practical training that allows pilots to operate in national standard scenarios, which have declared to have trained 19,000 students during these more than three years (around to 9,000 in 2023).

UAS operations based on risk

The flight of drones is subject to general operating rules conditioned, among others, by the weight of the drone, the presence of other people and the proximity to buildings. The operations are divided into three categories:

– Open category, lower risk. It does not require authorisation or declaration from the operator, and is further divided into three subcategories: A1, A2 and A3.

– Specific category, medium risk. The operator either conforms to a national or European standard scenario, or if the operation requires more complex requirements, it must submit an application for operational authorisation. For this category the aircraft must be declared. Currently, there are 9,367 aircraft registered with AESA, 30% more than at the end of 2022.

– Certified category. It includes the highest risk operations, among which are the transport of dangerous goods with high risk for people or flying over concentrations of people, among others. The operator, aircraft and pilot must be certified, and regulations are being developed in this regard.

It should be noted that on January 1, 2024, new requirements in European regulations have come into application, such as the direct remote identification system (DRI) and class markings.

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