Remote pilot competency in Belgium

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of Belgium. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• Competency requiredConditional
• Training requiredConditional
• Examination requiredConditional
• Proof of competency issuedConditional
• Operation-specific qualificationConditional
• Validity periodConditional
• Renewal or recurrent trainingConditional
• Minimum age16 yearsConditional
• Weight-based trigger0.25 kgConditional

What changes the answer

The published rules distinguish the a1, a2, a3 and open categories of operation.

• altitude

  Flight altitude at or below 120 m

• other

  Examination questions at or above 30 questions

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Access to UAS Test Zones

  Access to a UAS test zone geographical zone requires prior flight authorization from the zone manager.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Aeromodelling Pilot License A Requirements

  To obtain a Brevet A, candidates must pass a theoretical exam on aeromodelling regulations and club rules, and a practical exam demonstrating safe control and emergency maneuvers on an aeromodelling field before an examiner.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Age and License Requirements for Category 2 and 3 Model Aircraft

  To operate category 2 or 3 model aircraft, the remote pilot must be at least 16 years old, hold a Brevet B, and have their ability to safely operate category 3 aircraft recognized by their club if applicable.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Appointment of an Accountable Manager

  Recognized training entities must designate an accountable manager responsible for ensuring that all tasks are performed in accordance with defined procedures.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Appointment of an Accountable Manager for Training Entities

  Een door het DGLV erkende entiteit voor praktische opleiding en beoordeling moet een aansprakelijke beheerder aanduiden die toeziet op de uitvoering van alle taken overeenkomstig de vastgestelde procedures.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Availability of Personnel During Surveillance

  The responsible personnel of the designated training entity and its training programs must be available during DGTA surveillance activities.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Certificate requirements for model aircraft pilots

  A remote pilot of a model aircraft must hold at least a 'brevet A' (for aircraft up to 12 kg with specific engine limits) or a 'brevet B' (for other model aircraft up to 25 kg or 150 kg).

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• Koninklijk besluit van 8 november 2020 tot uitvoering van Uitvoeringsverordening (EU) 2019/947 (consolidated, NL) — FPS Mobility and Transport — Directorate-General Air Transport (DGTA / DGLV, Belgian Civil Aviation Authority)Open
• Ministerieel besluit van 29 december 2020 — nationaal standaardscenario (DGTA publication) — FPS Mobility and Transport — Directorate-General Air Transport (DGTA / DGLV, Belgian Civil Aviation Authority)Open

Known limitations

• Binding law and official guidance disagree on pilot_competency.renewal; the binding position is published.

Other drone rules in Belgium

• Do I need to register my drone in Belgium?Registration in Belgium is governed by a published mass threshold of 0.25 kg, alongside the further conditions cited below. Whether it applies to a given flight depends on those conditions, each cited to its rule.
• Do I need Remote ID in Belgium?Remote identification in Belgium is framed by a published mass threshold of 25 kg, together with the aircraft and operation conditions cited below. Whether a given flight must carry or broadcast an electronic identity depends on those conditions.
• What is the maximum drone altitude in Belgium?Drone flights in Belgium are held to a published general height limit of 120 m AGL. The limit is not absolute: the published conditions that change it are cited below.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in Belgium?Drone flights near aerodromes in Belgium are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• Can I fly a drone at night in Belgium?No. A published rule in Belgium prohibits night operations for the operations covered here.
• Is BVLOS drone flight allowed in Belgium?No. A published rule in Belgium excludes BVLOS for the operations covered here.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in Belgium?Whether an operation in Belgium needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• Do I need drone insurance in Belgium?Drone insurance in Belgium is published with a minimum third-party cover of 20 kg. Whether cover is required for a given flight depends on the published conditions below.

All drone laws in Belgium