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Drone Regulations in France & Airspace No-Fly Map

Complete guide to drone laws and aerial filming permissions in France. Learn about Open category regulations, the interactive geozone suite with live airspace inspection by DGAC (Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile), and how Drone Department executes commercial cinema operations under the EASA Specific Category.

Let op: Deze interactieve kaart dient als eerste oriëntatie en indicatie en is niet bedoeld voor het definitief plannen van drone missies. Raadpleeg voor het vliegen altijd de officiële AIP, actuele NOTAMs en nationale geozoneportalen van de bevoegde autoriteit (DGAC (Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile)).
Airspace Layers:
CTR / No-Fly Zone Open Category (Max 120m) Click anywhere on the map for live inspection

Open Category Drone Rules (A1, A2, A3)

What applies to recreational pilots, hobbyists, and standard drone operators in France?

  • Maximum flight ceiling is 120 meters AGL (strictly restricted to 30m, 50m, or 0m in colored geozones).
  • Flying over public spaces in populated areas (zones d'agglomération) is 100% prohibited in Open — this legally applies to EVERY city, town, village, and hamlet (hameau / lieu-dit) in France.
  • Continuous Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) mandatory. Night operations are 100% prohibited in the Open Category.
  • Operations within CTR airspace (Nice, Cannes, Paris) and military low-flying sectors (RTBA) are prohibited in Open.
  • Operator registration via the French AlphaTango portal is mandatory for all camera-equipped drones.
  • Direct broadcast Remote ID (balise électronique) is legally mandatory for drones exceeding 800 grams.
Commercial filming or operating outside Open rules? Filming in populated urban centers, at night, within controlled CTR airspace, or with full-frame cinema drones is strictly prohibited in Open and legally requires an EASA Specific authorization. See how Drone Department executes these flights with full compliance.

Commercial & Cinema Shoots (EASA Specific)

When do you need the EASA Specific Category and Drone Department in France?

Commercial productions in Cannes, Paris, the French Riviera, luxury villas, or superyacht ports require an EASA Specific authorization. Drone Department holds full European Specific licenses to execute authorized cinema shoots across France.

  • Filming in urban centers, ports, and cultural heritage locations
  • Night operations and advanced EVLOS / cinema FPV shoots
  • Full-frame 8K cinema drones (DJI Inspire 3 ProRes RAW)
  • Cross-border Standard Scenario (STS) and fast-track ATC approvals
Full Production Support: We handle all operational risk assessments and flight permits across France.
European Track Record

Planning a drone production in France?

Drone Department operates certified cinema crews across Europe. View our productions on the French Riviera / Monaco F1.

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