Article 4 - section overview
Verified from official sourcesArticle 4Article 4Version 1Effective -Verified 22 August 2026
In plain language
This section establishes the classification requirements for UAS operations in the 'open' category, defining limits on aircraft class, maximum take-off mass, operational distance from people, visual line of sight, maximum altitude, and cargo restrictions, as well as dividing the category into three sub-categories.
Requirement as structured
This section establishes the classification requirements for UAS operations in the 'open' category, defining limits on aircraft class, maximum take-off mass, operational distance from people, visual line of sight, maximum altitude, and cargo restrictions, as well as dividing the category into three sub-categories.
Original regulatory text
1. Operations shall be classified as UAS operations in the ‘open’ category only where the following requirements are met: (a) the UAS belongs to one of the classes set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 or is privately built or meets the conditions defined in Article 20; (b) the unmanned aircraft has a maximum take-off mass of less than 25 kg; (c) the remote pilot ensures that the unmanned aircraft is kept at a safe distance from people and that it is not flown over assemblies of people; (d) the remote pilot keeps the unmanned aircraft in VLOS at all times except when flying in follow-me mode or when using an unmanned aircraft observer as specified in Part A of the Annex; (e) during flight, the unmanned aircraft is maintained within 120 metres from the closest point of the surface of the earth, except when overflying an obstacle, as specified in Part A of the Annex (f) during flight, the unmanned aircraft does not carry dangerous goods and does not drop any material; 2. UAS operations in the ‘open’ category shall be divided in three sub-categories in accordance with the requirements set out in Part A of the Annex. <
Applies when
- operation
- EU UAS operation
- operation category
- Open
- regulatory category
- Open