Avoiding Emergency and Rescue Occurrence Areas

In plain language

Do not fly your drone near emergency response or rescue operations (like active fires or accidents) unless you have explicit authorization from the rescue chief on site.

Requirement as structured

ANAC's local-conditions guidance states that UAS operators should check Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil (PROCIV) information to confirm whether the operating area lies inside an occurrence area, that such areas are to be avoided by open and specific category operators unless authorised by the rescue chief, and that operators should have procedures to monitor and avoid them. The binding duty is EU law — UAS.OPEN.060(3) and UAS.SPEC.060(3)(e) of the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2019/947 — whose breach Decreto-Lei n.º 87/2021, Artigo 14.º, n.º 1, alínea q) penalises.

Original regulatory text

Occurrence areas/rescue (first-responders) Verify the available information from Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil ( PROCIV), to confirm if the operational zone is located inside an occurrence area. PROCIV website provides information regarding these areas to be avoided for any open or specific category operators, except if being authorised by the rescue chief. <brPlease note that are requirements in Part A (open category) and B that could be fulfilled if you know the location with first responders to be avoided. Occurrence areas available at PROCIV. <brBefore the flights, the operators should establish procedures to monitor and avoid these zones. <br