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NEW RULES FOR OPERATING UNCREWED AERIAL VEHICLES – DRONES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

By adopting the new Rulebook of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 1/2020) that is to enter into force on February 15, 2020, inter alia, the new rules have been prescribed relating to their classification, registration and the requirements that the persons using uncrewed aerial vehicles, i.e. operators must fulfil.

  1. Uncrewed aerial vehicles fall into the following categories:
  2. Category 1 –includes uncrewed aerial vehicles, the maximum weight of which at a takeoff point is less than 0.9 kg;
  3. Category 2 – includes uncrewed aerial vehicles, the maximum weight of which at a takeoff point ranges between 0.9 kg and 4 kg (not including 4 kg);
  4. Category 3 – includes uncrewed aerial vehicles, the maximum weight of which at a takeoff point ranges between 4 kg and 25 kg (not including 25 kg);
  5. Category 4 – includes uncrewed aerial vehicles. The maximum weight at a takeoff point ranges between 25 kg and 150 kg.

The obligation for the registration in the Registry of Aircrafts kept by the Civil Aviation Directorate of the Republic of Serbia (from now on: the Directorate) shall be imposed for:

  • Uncrewed aerial vehicles fall into categories 3 and 4;
  • Uncrewed aerial vehicles falling into categories 1 or 2 are used for: (i) flying at altitudes exceeding 100 m, (ii) flying near airports, (iii) flying at a horizontal distance larger than 500 m from the operator of the uncrewed aerial vehicles; (iv) flying above people; (v) flying in the vicinity of people; (vi) flying in the conditionally prohibited area; (vii) night flying; (viii) dropping liquids or objects or carrying external cargo which is not an integral part of the uncrewed aerial vehicle structure.

The maximum allowed flight altitude of an uncrewed aerial vehicle shall be 100 m above the ground level unless the Directorate has already approved the flight to be carried out at a higher height and unless the allocation of the aerial space has been made. The maximum allowed horizontal distance of an uncrewed aerial vehicle from the operator of the uncrewed aerial vehicle shall be 500 m unless the Directorate has already approved the flight to be carried out at a larger horizontal distance and unless the applicant provided the required risk assessment.

The uncrewed aerial vehicle operator shall be an adult person, physically capable and who has passed a test in the knowledge required for the safe use of uncrewed aerial vehicles.

Exceptionally, the operator operating an uncrewed aerial vehicle of category 1 in a manner that does not require the allocation of the aerial space or the approval of the Directorate:

  • shall not be required to take an exam in knowledge nor to fulfil the requirements regarding medical fitness;
  • It may also be a minor above 15 years of age that is under 15 if immediately supervised by an adult when operating the uncrewed aerial vehicle.

The above requirements shall also apply to foreign citizens operating uncrewed aerial vehicles. A foreign uncrewed aerial vehicle may fly in the Republic of Serbia’s aerial space based on the Directorate’s approval. In this event, it shall not be required to register in the Registry of Aircrafts.

Attorney at law Stefan Mojsić

The information contained herein has been provided only for the purpose of general information and cannot be considered as a legal opinion or legal advice. Accordingly, the Law Firm Petrovic & Partners disclaims all responsibility and accept no liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents contained herein.