Top tip: Drone operator registration is free in Spain and valid in the rest of the EASA controlled region. Unfortunately if your’re an EU resident you have to register in your country of residence: you can’t choose Spain to register as a drone operator. If you aren’t an EU resident then you have to register in the first country that you operate your drone in. So UK drone operators should therefore go on holiday in Spain first with their drone before flying to Hamburg!
@@anthonydyer3939 wow! THIS is why I love the comments. Thank you so much for bringing real value on the table! And good thing you mention it: I’m planning a trip to UK and have to find out what it needs to operate there. 👌🏻
Great video! As an Englishman we really do appreciate it when people do their videos in English! In England the drone laws for a mini 3 pro are more relaxed. Just avoid restricted airspace such as military bases and airports. And no-fly zone such as over prisons or young offenders institutions. But apart from that, you can pretty much fly anywhere as long as you fly safe and responsibly! 🙂👍🏻
Thank you so much for your feedback! Appreciate it! 🙏 The problem being native Finnish speaker is that no one speaks Finnish so have to manage with the foreign ones like German and English ;)
But you do have to register the drone and display the registration ID… but your right its fairly relaxed compared to Germany. This information shocked me. So many things to have to do.
Nice video, thanks. But since the mini 3 pro is only 249g... did you really have to register it? According to the website that you mentioned, it's only for drones 250g and above. Interested to hear your experience.
Yes, 249g is absolutely correct. BUT the Mini 3 Pro has a ”sensor for colleting personal data” i.e. a camera so that makes the registration compulsory. 249g and no camera = no registration.
This was the simple information I had been looking for, before coming to Germany. We are visiting for 2 months and I checked with my insurance before leaving the States to make sure I was covered (and I am) but I didn't know about the step 2. For me thus far, every where I go seem to be a no fly area and the weather has been horrible. I have flown once, but it was with the Autel Nano+, ( I brought both with me). The next time we visit Europe, I may just try and get licensed so I can bring the Air 2S and Lite+ because the winds have been pretty rough for Minis.
Happy to hear that! The tricky part is where to fly. There is an app called ”Droniq” which is quite useful. I’m afraid it’s only in German but nevertheless. The thing is, there are so many restricted areas. For example railways, 100m (~300ft) horizontal distance. Unless you are flying lower than the horizontal distance is, like 75ft horizontal distance and 75ft AGL is okay. Unless you have the A2 license and pay €200 for a ”general permit” which allows you to go even closer. So it’s an absolute mess but staying a bit further away from major roads, railways and especially the airports (I think they are at least in the DJI app as well) and using some common sense you should steer clear of problems. The list is pretty exhaustive though… I hope your trip will be great! 😊
Very useful as I visit friends in Darmstadt regularly. Thanks for the tips and advice and happy flying when the weather calms down!! (I am currently grounded because of endless wind and rain also!!)
I fly in the US as a Part 107 operator and it really seems like the German government aviation authority has taken so much fun out the hobby with such burdensome regulation. I know it's going to get worse everywhere over time, but man... sorry you have to go through so much. The US is a lot more forgiving. In Chicago last week, I just finished up flying 400' above the Sears Tower (1,812ft AGL within 200' of the building) (never will call it Willis!) and got some epic pictures of downtown Chicago and the Lake Michigan and lots of great video. It was a bit scary and we had the entire blocked ringed with our visual observers, but all went well. We filmed with the Autel EVO II Pro, the DJI Mavic 3 Cine, and our legacy Phantom 4 Pro. The Phantom 4 Pro was the strongest in the wind which was amazing being a 7 year old drone. 😊👍
Oh that’s the easy part of getting licensed. Where to fly is a whole other thing to itself. For example, here in Hamburg we have a rather big port. The regulations from the aviation legislation are one thing and the logically the port authority (NOT aviation) has own regulations. There is also a ”pay to fly”-scheme, pay for the authority and you can have a license to fly closer than the regulations normally allows. As pretty much everything in Germany: it’s an absolute mess 😂 Downtown Chicago must really be epic! Thank you so much for your comment and have nice skies! 🙏
@@leomannisto Well it's not a "pay to fly"- scheme, but besides paying, you have to proof your skills and knowledge of the rules and the physics of flying in order to get the license. To optain it, the A2 Drone pilot licence is a must have. That's the way that only quallified pilots can enjoi reduced limitations, where to fly, which makes sense for upholding safety conditions. Same as in normal traffic, i don't want people driving arround without a driving license and without any clue about the rules and trafic signs.
@@ExHanseat ye i got the a2 certificate so i can fly in cities with the 2s and mav 3, but you still have to stay 50 meters from people so makes it hard considering cities are always full of people. i like to shoot in golden hour so less people around but still a fair few so i just the mini 3 mainly
comparing german rules with the strict US FAA ">250g" rules, most European countries have much more lenient rules. NO mandatory DroneID transponders etc. Pilot license, A1 or A2, liability insurance, a sticker on the drone and your good to go. For DIY drones, there is also an open class and you can register as many drones as you want or if you have several of the same model, use the same ID. The 50m safety distance rule to people makes a LOT of sense for inexperienced pilots and larger drones, an 250g droe or a mavic pro or even a large octocopter with A2 license can be flown closer, provided it has some safety features like collision warning, redundant batteries and can saferly land if one of the props is damaged. The whole FPV part is mostly unregulated, since moving below 30m over ground outside of residiential areas is not even considered flying. tbh, most pilots that fly outside of the city don give a damn about regulations except a safety distance anyways. Just dont annoy people with low passes over their garden and noone will care
Hi Leo, thanks for your video. What spots do you recommend in Hamburg for A1? I also own Avata and need a recommendation to fly in A3 spaces. Any suggestion?
Thank you! Hamburg is a slightly tricky place to fly (legally) but not impossible. I’d recommend downloading the ”Droniq” app on your phone. It allows you to input the specifics like A1 or A3 and the starting weight and flight parameters and shows you the restricted areas on the map.
not that I knew... I have heard there are FPV-activity at Öjendorfer Park but that is more on a rumour base and don't know if it's reliable =) maybe instagram search with fpv and Hamburg would connect you with like minded FPV-pilots?
Thank you Leo for your informative video I also own the DJI Mini 3 Pro having upgraded myself from the Mavic Mini 1. Because the drone is under 250g here in the States we are not required to register drones under that weight but I went through the process of registering first my Mavic Mini 1 and now the Mini 3 Pro and also have an FAA license. I have never heard of requiring insurances for flying a drone, although not a bad idea, however I have legally flown my drone in the UK, the Caribbean and Canada. I have been told those countries recognize the FAA license the same as one's driver's license from the US to drive abroad. I have friends in the Berlin and Frankfurt areas living in Potsdam and Darmstadt I visit every few years and was thinking of bringing my Mini 3 Pro along with me, but I am having second thoughts now if my American FAA license is not recognized as it is in other countries I have traveled to. I am grateful to your video here for letting me know. Hope you are having fun with your Mini 3 Pro!!
I really appreciate your lenghty comment! Very good thoughts! I really can’t tell if FAA license is valid. Technically you don’t need a license but an insurance, that’s a German anomality I think. But maybe your travel insurance or liability insurance (I don’t know if it’s a German anomality too) covers drone flying? Or if someone offers for travellers. But that’s the thing with Ze Germans, why complicated when impossible is possible! ;)
Haha, yes I remember how it was when I first bought my Mini 3 Pro. Having heard all sorts of warnings about rules and regulations against drone flying I did not dare fly it until nearly a week and then only very low and with full caution. The Fly app also made me more nervous with the warnings appearing on the screens. It’s now 10 months and am fully enjoying this wonderful machine. Greetings from BC, Canada🇨🇦😄
Yes indeed, fun those first flights! But as it seems the regulations are pretty much not endorsed if one has a look at the instagram for example. I presume common sense goes a long way (but won’t recommend to fly anywhere where one shouldn’t either). BC would be a dream to visit one day, preferably with a drone!
@@leomannisto photography is my main hobby. Recently started to do video and the drone makes it so easy to capture good quality pictures and video. Your video shows that you are already a good filmmaker so it does not matter where you are😄👍🏼
I have something similar too! I didn’t even know that they cover drones and thought I need a separate one but that seems not to be the case. Which saves some money!
I had hunting insurance,, I don't remember what It was called... here you can insure anything ,, as long as you specify what it is,, like my scuba gear.. gear must be defined as what....
Maybe 15 minutes. It’s not hard! Remember, if your drone is under 250g you don’t _have_ to get the licence. But it ain’t hard and doesn’t hurt in any way!
Hello Leo, got my liability insurance today and soon will register the drone, now the question is where the hell fly drone in Hamburg? Any suggestions? Thanks! 😅
well.. Hamburg is tricky due to the two airports. and countless helipads, embassies and and and and. One good spot to do some practice could be Moorburg, something to see (the port), legal spot and some space to fly.
I am sorry but I can't answer that, I mean I don't know if there is a short term liability insurances available. But I would check your travel insurance too, maybe it covers 3rd parties as well.
I live in Berlin. I bought the Mini 4 Pro. While it was delivered I reviewed the restrictions and the maps where its not allowed. I had the box in my hands and returned it. It's almost impossible in Germany, Austria, Switzerland to fly a drone. You cannot fly over or less of 100 meters of rivers, lakes, highways, train rails, don't forget to ask a permission (recommend on paper) if you fly over a private property. With that in mind you could say, ok I can fly in some forests... NO, usually those are protected natural parks, and is forbidden. You ended up with some small parks and if you now Germanic culture you know that some one will shout you and complain that you should not doing something, flying your drone in that area, even if its legal. Now confront with papers, arguments and the law in German, not my native language (I'm from Colombia 🇨🇴). That's why I returned my drone. I used to have a Mavic Air 1. But that was a time ago. Now Germany stopped my dream to fly again 🥲
i feel you brother. I think in Berlin you even have to call the authoroties every time you are about to take off. That’s pretty much the reason why I barely even fly in Germany, easier to travel abroad and fly there 😂 we have the exact same thoughts about this topic and it’s kind of tragic that there is no such thing as ”common sense” here. not that it should be a wild west but some bits are ever so slightly over-regulated.
Yes, but I'm Germany it's more restricted. More forbidden areas and the people will confront you, even if it's legal. And ask and bother you. If German is not you native language could be hard to argument.
All countries need videos like these. Latvian regulations are hard to find, better just hope to not get caught 🥸 though luckily the restricted airspace map was easy to find
Indeed! The German airspace regulations are another chapter and it would take 10 videos to explain where you are allowed to fly. Luckily they have a rather good app, otherwise it would be impossible to fly.
Really impressed by your production values, high quality film making with some great shots. As far as the German laws are concerned are they not the same for the rest of Europe? I had to prove insurance to register to fly in Malta last year and that gets me into the rest of Europe with the EU registration, which I proudly display on my drone as I didn’t want to leave anyway!
Thank you! So happy to hear that! 🙏 As far as I know the insurance is different, for example in Germany a must have and in Denmark it’s ”highly recommended” but not obligatory. (The 3rd party liability insurance in Germany is anyway a must have kind of a thing, I mean for all other things as drones as well like washing machines causing a flooding etc etc.)
I think the 3 rules you are talking about are not only for Germany but for all Europe. Eg. the registration as a pilot is also needed in my country only that it is free of charge. And also the insurance is a must in my country.
you are absolutely right. however, Ze Germans have mastered the art of making everything more complicated as needed. And the _where_ ypu are allowed to fly in Germany is such a mess (compared to Denmark and Finland for example.
that is absolutely correct. you do NOT need an A1/A3 for Mini 3 Pro or anything under 250g MTOW. but as the Germans love all kinds of licenses and documents it doesn’t hurt to have one and it takes about 15 minutes to get one so why not.
Yes but you don t need the certificate from LBA. The certificate is actually issued by EASA and if you go there you can take it in many languages, while LBA only provides english and german!
@@mobilelegendsmoskov893 yes, you do not need it (for Mini 3/4/whatever) but it is so easy to obtain that it won’t hurt. And the stuff is good general knowledge over drone ops 👌🏻
Great info, I’m about to get a drone in Germany. Do you know of any rules for commercial flight? For instance making a TH-cam video and getting paid a couple of euros?
I am glad if it was helpful! No, sorry, I have no idea about commercial flying. Pretty sure it is one hell of a mess regarding to liability/insurance kind of things… but not impossible, I am sure!
Leo, thanks for the tips and video. Which liability insurance do you have, recently bought my DJI mini 3 pro, so have to go through the steps you mentioned. Greetings from Hamburg.
Our liability insurance is at the "Haftpflichtkasse", that is a normal household 3rd party liability insurance which just so happens to cover drone flying too - so check that first. If not you could use something like Check24 to compare various insurances, they have some metrics to analyze which would be a good option. I am happy to hear you found it informative. Greetings from Hamburg too! Nice skies & all the best!
Oh I live in Hamburg and here it is already Autumn! Spend the last week in the Finnish Lapland and even there it was warmer and more sun than in Hamburg 😂😂😂 Let’s see, I have to go to Hanover next week, i’ll try and let my umbrella at home 👍
I pass through Hanover usually 2-4 times a week (I drive trains as a ”9-5”) but it’s kind of a city one never goes to. Should take the time at some point, it has kind of a laid back vibe, doesn’t it?
On the website you mentioned I read: "In order to be able to drive your drone from category A1 and A3 from 250 grams and above safely and legally, you must first acquire proof of remote pilots. With this certificate, you have a proof in your pocket that you know the rules and can safely guide your drone.". That means that no proof is required for lighter drones. So what registration are you talking about?
The registration and the pilot’s licence are two different things. If you have a drone with less than 250g (w/ camera) you don’t need a pilot’s licence but you still have to tell the aviation authorities that ”hey, I have a drone with a camera which is less than 250g.” In short : 249g w/camera - no pilot’s licence, yes registration at the aviation authority. Doesn’t hurt to have a license though, easy to obtain and as ze germans love all kind of licenses and documents you can whip out one in a pinch and you look more professional 😉😉😉. Fun aside, doesn’t hurt to know a bit of the legislation either. I obtained one although I don’t absolutely need one, took about 15 minutes. And I have one if I some day buy/loan a heavier drone.
Hi, I live in Belgium and I registered my DJI Mini 3 Pro without any hassle. Logged in to the Federal Aviation site with my secure eID, entered my insurance policy number and got my registration certificate a few minutes later. For free. Just wondering, do I have to register in each European country, like Germany, to fly there as a tourist?
Oh that sounds easy! I think you are covered, when you are registered in one country within the EU. Free movement and so on (somehow it works with other topics better than others 😉) . I am interested how it works with some ex-EU countries though…
@@A_Fortunate_Traveler I can confirm that it is enough to register in one country. Interesting thing is that in Germany and in Belgium you have an insurance. In Poland it is not something that is obligatory but of course it is always good to have it :) BTW @leomannisto thanks for that movie it really helps, I wish you more not windy days...
Hallo Leo, thank for the informative video. I am in Hamburg too , I have the Air2s . I have completed A1/A3 , have the insurance and awaiting my registration id. But really struggling to find some places to fly :( . Can you suggest some places to fly around Hamburg ?
Hamburg is a bit problematic (considering it from the regulations point of view) due to airports and whatnot. One good spot might be Moorburg? Oberfeuer Moorburg maps.app.goo.gl/XpjvVjCcq38y966u5?g_st=ic It’s not so crammed with a harbour view. The Air2s is nice! Nice Skies Sandeep!
It is strange the rules should be the same in whole Europe? But thanks for the info, in a few weeks I am in Germany, so I controlled everything and learned my insurance does not insure drones anymore. So I will fix that.
_mostly_ the same. The insurance seems to vary as does the ”where”. The German Drone laws regarding the where to fly is such a can of worms. Would be content for the years to come but they are so horror to even remotely understand. 😂
USA laws are pretty brutal too. Reality is that I’m betting many people who make money on TH-cam are not even Part 107 compliance in the USA. Here, technically if you make money using drone you need ti have your Part 107.
But the UE regulation says you can fly if you register in your country, and have a licence to fly, under some restrictions of course...under A1/A3 regulation license... That doesn't apply to Germany?
@@leomannisto i know that the insurance is required only for drones above 2kg i think...or above 25... Te EU regulation doesn't oblige you to have insurance fir smaller drones. I have mavic air 2 and don't need insurance.
In Germany you need an insurance for also less than 250g MTOW if it’s equipped with a camera. I really can’t say what happens if a foreign pilot / registered drone causes 3rd party damage and flies without insurance but that might get rather expensive. And as I said in the video you will not get the eID before you provide the insurance number to the aviation agency. So this seems to vary a bit by country, for example Denmark recommends an insurance but it is not compulsory. And exactly this is the problem of the unified regulations. Every country slaps 1000 national regulations on top and they are written in a way that leaves room for interpretation. And to add insult to the injury the German Federal Aviation Agency only provides the regulations in German. In English there is a checklist provided by the Deutsche Flugsicherung, the ATS provider in Germany: www.dfs.de/homepage/en/drone-flight/checklist-for-drone-pilots/
@@leomannisto that kinda sucks. But also makes sense. If you make some damage, to be able to pay by insurance like on the car. But it sucks that if i come there, how do i do that? I have to register the drone under german legislation?!? I'm already registered in my country. And in the EU regulation, says something like, you need to register under the regulation of residency country, and the you can fly in all the EU countries, complying to the EU regulation. No?
That’s a really good question too! I was thinking it on the other way round one day, does my German insurance cover me abroad. And yes. If something sucks, it is the German bureaucracy. For example: you are not allowed to fly closer than 100m to water, which is declared as a ”federal waterway”. But in the federal state of Hamburg you are allowed to fly over federal waterway. And if you want to fly closer than 1500m to a HEMS helicopter landing site you can do that by paying 200e for a ”general permit” - BUT you have to have A2 license even when flying
I immediately got mi Uas id number, but they didn't charge me. Maybe I should wait more? Also, it's nothing I can stick on the drone! It's just a page where I read "welcome to your personal dashboard for UAS..."
Yes they charge later. I did mine in February and still don’t have the invoice, it takes months. No, you just print a sticker or write it with a Sharpie on your drone or order a small aluminium plate (amazon have plenty of them!) :)
I just bought the dji mini 3 pro. I do come to Germany every few years. These are really good tips and good video. But could you address someone from the USA visiting Germany, I am registered in the USA and completed my TRUST certificate and am just a recreational drone flyer right now. I am considering getting my part 107 here in the USA so I can use my drone for my work... But anyway, for recreation flying only the mini 3 pro, and visiting Germany, am I allowed?
Thank you so much Randy! 🙏 I really can’t answer your question. I understood the law as the registration should be done in some European Union country but… I am pretty sure that the lawmaker never once made a thought that there might be someone from for example USA visiting Germany and wants to fly drones. I don’t know how the FAR regulations regarding drones are but if you bring some kind of licencing number on your drone itself that can’t harm. Regarding to _where_ to fly it gets really messy and vague and I have to triple check if I am allowed to fly somewhere - all the information is of course in German. I can try to find information about your issue but can’t promise to find anything, those laws are good guarded secrets ;)
@@leomannisto Understood. Maybe, and I just say maybe, it is the same as a private pilot. I am allowed to fly a manned plane in any country as long as I have a pilots license from my home country. Maybe this will be the same for drones because it is the same agency that will license both in the USA. Please don't go to any trouble, I will ask our FAA their opinion.
@@leomannisto I think that's correct. You need to register with the aviation authority of the country you're travelling to and do the online test. I think you should be able to do all of it online but I don't know how they check your identity online in practice if you don't have citizenship of the local country
I appreciate you so much, I flew about a year ago maybe more on my mini 2 and this wasn’t a thing I’m getting it updated and what not for a trip to France and say I required all this new stuff like insurance and to be registered haha. I was like NOOOOOOOO leave it to the Germans to add more rules to a hobby 🤣😅😭 BUT you explained it PAIN FREE.. best explanation video for this subject I’ve seen. You’re a scholar and a hero 😘
oh dear, that was so nicely written that I’m missing the words to reply. thank you so much! really appreciate. yes, ze Germans like to over-regulate ”a bit”, I might have a video about it coming soon-ish. ;) nice skies and all the best!!!!
If you use 15 minutes to obtain the A1/A3 license it’s not a problem. Germany being Germany there might be someone with a scale if something happens so… 😂
Hi Leo, I've lived in Germany for about 15 years now and still get frustrated at the authorities ability to suck the fun out of any hobby. Their addiction to regulations and restrictions make life here very bland at times. That being said, I think the rules and to an extent the registration regulations might be needed for the drones as irresponsible people can quickly turn this hobby into something the public will turn against. If you look at some of the videos posted by some of the young Americans where they are flying close to people in crowds, over heavy traffic, in and around public buildings on business days,and sending drones into the stratosphere right in the flight paths of other aircraft, one can see why regulations might be a good idea. Unfortunately society moves at the pace of it's slowest, (and most stupid). Germany is a postage stamp of a country with 85 million people in it, being generous 1 in 10 people are morons, that's a lot of morons. Frohe Weihnachten und guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
Hello! Oh I can understand what you are talking about! I’ve been here for 14 years now and feel pretty much the same way. You indeed have a point and I have to admit that some of the overcomplicated rules indeed make sense - to some extent. But regulating everything to death doesn’t leave any room for common sense in my opinion. Where to fly would be a good theme for video but it just is such a can of worms… 😂 Thank you so much for your comment, have a Merry Christmas, nice skies and A Happy New Year! All the best!
@@leomannisto "But regulating everything to death doesn’t leave any room for common sense" ; I agree wholeheartedly, normal people would probably not misuse or fly without due care...but there's always that one reckless fool. We could have a much longer conversation about regulations eating away at common sense and personal responsibility where the bar has to be constantly raised to keep up with the erosion of those things.It's a real 'catch 22'. buuut that's not a conversation for a youtube comments section ;) I'm in Schleswig Holstein as well and if I see you out and about flying i'll buy you a coffee and we can solve this issue once and for all :)
I was surprised at how little red tape there is for the sub 250gram category here given how fond our various governments are of regulation. I've not got expectations of making money from my M3P but did the accreditation and registration anyway in case I happen to get something special. All free and online at the moment.
Useful video. I have just been researching the German drone rules as I am driving across the country in May. I was shocked to see how stringent they are. Even with sub 250s its impossible to fly in city centres, even over rivers. Might have to stick to ground based videos.
The rules about where to fly is a mess. Yes, rivers - if declared as a federal waterways - are a problem 100m horizontal distance or cross quickly at 100m AGL. BUT for example in Hamburg the river Elbe is an exception and the information about that is to find on the website of the Hamburg Port Authority… I mean the port authority is the first place to look where to _fly_… So every rule has some kind of an exemption to them - which is not showed on the Droniq app (which otherwise is quite good regarding the restricted zones) but the information is so scattered and all over the place. And usually only in German. And you can buy the €200 exemption to the exemptions of course, which requires the ”big” A2 license…
I would say yes, your drone is registered in an EU country. No problem with that. However, the insurance here is the interesting part. I really can’t say how that works when someone is visiting Germany with an ”foreign” drone. That’s something that interests me as well. I don’t know if you have and/or your insurance is valid when abroad. BTW, most drone schools here in Germany offer Dutch pilot licenses. Maybe it’s more straightforward process there.
I don't get it. What is so overwhelming about the few points (insurance, pilot registration, marking the drone) you mentioned? And, BTW, the requirement to register as a drone pilot is not a German speciality, it applies to every EU country!
Well the process could be more streamlined, don’t you think? It takes a week minimum for something which should take minutes. As a non-native German speaker it is not always so easy to find the relevant information - either in English or in German not written for lawyers ;)
Actually, Germany is the worst when it comes to finding the information, waiting for every damn thing to be processed by the slowest system of the world and even if you think you do everything right, someone still might find something wrong.
As an American, you are basically the epitome of German stoicism, lol. So it basically seems like in Germany, there's no exception for recreational flyers. In America, the regulations are fairly lax so long as you A. are flying a drone less than 250 grams in mass, and B. are not flying for commercial purposes, and C. Take a short (like thirty minutes!) online course telling you where not to fly.
Oh thank you! I have to say though that I am Finnish and just live in Germany. 😉 Oh is it so? That’s a good news, I really would like to visit the US of the A some day and good to know that one can take the drone with. 👌🏻
Yes! Really can’t say how the insurance works when you are visiting from another country ( I am sure this has not crossed the legislators mind even once) but… Have fun and safe flying! 👍
blog.flykit.app/best-drone-insurance-providers-in-germany/amp/ - I found this. Maybe it helps? If you have a travel insurance, maybe that covers drone insurance as well? That is something I never thought of but that could be possible? And interesting in any case.
Here in Finland the rules are plentiful. We have to do all the things you describe and take an exam, even two separate exams if you intend to fly anywhere else than in the countryside. So you’re registered many times over by the authorities. Your flights are also being monitored on a need to bases. DJI sells this monitoring capability to authorities, rest assured we have that also in Finland, probably you too over there in Germany. All of these permits you must get in Finland will cost you money and they are all valid for no more than 5 years. So yes, getting the youth into this hobby is not supported by the authorities and have ended many young enthusiasts from being able to have this hobby. Then again there’s also an age limit in Finland. I’ve been into aviation in different forms from an early age. I’m in my middle age by now. The authorities also closed down the only airfield for light aircraft, the Malmi Airport, so that ended also aviation requiring operations from a real runway in the capital area. Hopefully you’ll be luckier in Germany. Have a nice day and fun with your drone mate!❤
And anyways it seems easier than doing it legally in Spain. Despite of this there's plenty of Germans flying drones all over the cities, natural parks and CTRs of the airports in Mallorca
Oh does it? I’ve never read the Spanish laws regarding to drones. Natural Parks (which there are plenty of!) as well as CTR is no-go in Germany as well (although there are some exceptions to _some_ CTRs, max 50m AGL. Yes, one sees plenty of footage filmed breaching the rules but I kind of want to avoid that, you are kind of uploading the evidence by yourself.
Good point! I was a bit scared of them and they were there in the middle of the pond. Didn’t want to scare and/or bother them so overflew a puddle instead 😂
Generally speaking yes. For example in Denmark the insurance is not mandatory but highly recommended and in Spain the marking must be fireproof. So same unified EU-regulations everywhere…;)
Thanks for the tips. Got my drone, insurance and registration all in one day. Any tips where to fly in Hamburg? I dont want to trigger the German anger.
Oh… where to fly is a bit of a thing… There is an app called ”droniq” - when you open it you can see that pretty much the whole hamburg is forbidden zone. Logically the regulations regarding waterways are to be found at the port authority, not aviation authority… Common sense is not a huge thing here so it’s a bit of over-regulated. It’s not impossible to fly and take all possible regulations into consideration but ain’t simple either. Moorburg is nice and legal place to get harbour shots!
@@leomannisto Thanks, I just need a field for practice. Not planning to fly to much in Germany. More Iceland and Sweden. Lüneburger Heide is probably all forbidden?
Ok, I got the droniq app and its great. Poorly rated probably because you cant fly anywhere. Not the apps fault… How did they have time to forbid everything in such detail😄
Yes, because of… pretty much everything. But if you read the fine print, you can fly 50m AGL. There is for example a little corner of Binnenalster, where you are able to fly ;) If you look at the instagram, the drones in central Hamburg seem to be a thing.
You provided official recommendations. What is like in real life? Not that hard I guess😊 obviously if you dont flight over peoples houses and other stupid things😊
I didn’t find it too extremely complicated to go through that mess. Annoying: yes. Worth it: don’t know BUT: The fines can be up to €50000 so… I have read news about a man who took off before the GPS lock activated on a parking lot of a supermarkt near an airport, flew up to 120cm over the ground before the GPS did a forced landing (so literally lower than the lamp posts on the parking lot) and an very alert pedestrian alarmed the police and the fine was €700… of course it’s to everyone to judge the risk, can’t say what is the probability of being caught while doing something forbidden, but it is possible. And that’s kind of the thing here, I come from a country where people pretty much mind their own business but in Germany it’s… a bit… different. I’d advice to play by the book, but first and foremost use common sense 😉. I am just generally lazy and not that keen to have a conflict or even a discussion with someone, quite like to be left alone ;)
@@leomannisto thanks for an advice. At least know what kind of workarounds would need to do if want to fly in DE for fun in forest;) As occasionally visiting it;)
Fly slow and low and check that the forest is not in an National Park or nature preservation area. 😜. But I think common sense and - if someone gets annoyed - staying cool goes a long way. 👌🏻 Have a good flight and nice skies!
I thought about taking my Mini 3 Pro last summer but then thought the airport staff in Hamburg Airport are a pain in the arse! Heck, I had to pay a surcharge just to take my iPad onto the flippin' plane!
Oh yes and the queues. I’d also avoid checked in baggage, might take an hour or two to get yours on arrival. Or weeks. I quite like airports like Helsinki with the new technology, no need to take liquids or electronics out and the 100ml in a 1l bag is also history so BYOB is not a problem there.
Nothing realy new and the mentioned rules apply to all member states of the EU. So registration and insurance are mandatory in the whole EU and pretty much in the rest of the world too. Also remember, ther is no place in this world where the luminos grey is so pretty and shiny as in Hamburg. 😜😂
Not quite true. For example Denmark and Finland does not require an insurance, only recommend. Registration yes. Haha that is true, especially the last days it’s hard to believe it’s June!
Top tip: Drone operator registration is free in Spain and valid in the rest of the EASA controlled region. Unfortunately if your’re an EU resident you have to register in your country of residence: you can’t choose Spain to register as a drone operator. If you aren’t an EU resident then you have to register in the first country that you operate your drone in. So UK drone operators should therefore go on holiday in Spain first with their drone before flying to Hamburg!
@@anthonydyer3939 wow!
THIS is why I love the comments. Thank you so much for bringing real value on the table!
And good thing you mention it: I’m planning a trip to UK and have to find out what it needs to operate there. 👌🏻
Great video! As an Englishman we really do appreciate it when people do their videos in English! In England the drone laws for a mini 3 pro are more relaxed. Just avoid restricted airspace such as military bases and airports. And no-fly zone such as over prisons or young offenders institutions. But apart from that, you can pretty much fly anywhere as long as you fly safe and responsibly! 🙂👍🏻
Thank you so much for your feedback! Appreciate it! 🙏
The problem being native Finnish speaker is that no one speaks Finnish so have to manage with the foreign ones like German and English ;)
But you do have to register the drone and display the registration ID… but your right its fairly relaxed compared to Germany. This information shocked me. So many things to have to do.
Nice video, thanks. But since the mini 3 pro is only 249g... did you really have to register it? According to the website that you mentioned, it's only for drones 250g and above. Interested to hear your experience.
Yes, 249g is absolutely correct. BUT the Mini 3 Pro has a ”sensor for colleting personal data” i.e. a camera so that makes the registration compulsory.
249g and no camera = no registration.
@@leomannisto Ahhh... good to know! My Mini 3 Pro arrives tomorrow... I'll make sure to register before I fly it. Thanks!
Happy to help! 🙏
Very nice. I see your hard work filming and editing and stamping your unique personality onto it all.
Really like the "ready for take off" scene.
Thank you Jeremy! I really appreciate your feedback, so nice to hear you liked it! 🙏
This was the simple information I had been looking for, before coming to Germany. We are visiting for 2 months and I checked with my insurance before leaving the States to make sure I was covered (and I am) but I didn't know about the step 2. For me thus far, every where I go seem to be a no fly area and the weather has been horrible. I have flown once, but it was with the Autel Nano+, ( I brought both with me). The next time we visit Europe, I may just try and get licensed so I can bring the Air 2S and Lite+ because the winds have been pretty rough for Minis.
Happy to hear that!
The tricky part is where to fly. There is an app called ”Droniq” which is quite useful. I’m afraid it’s only in German but nevertheless.
The thing is, there are so many restricted areas. For example railways, 100m (~300ft) horizontal distance. Unless you are flying lower than the horizontal distance is, like 75ft horizontal distance and 75ft AGL is okay. Unless you have the A2 license and pay €200 for a ”general permit” which allows you to go even closer.
So it’s an absolute mess but staying a bit further away from major roads, railways and especially the airports (I think they are at least in the DJI app as well) and using some common sense you should steer clear of problems.
The list is pretty exhaustive though…
I hope your trip will be great! 😊
Very useful as I visit friends in Darmstadt regularly. Thanks for the tips and advice and happy flying when the weather calms down!! (I am currently grounded because of endless wind and rain also!!)
Oh I can relate! I’m fed up with the wind and snow (!) too!
So happy to hear that! Have fun in Darmstadt! 👌🏻
I fly in the US as a Part 107 operator and it really seems like the German government aviation authority has taken so much fun out the hobby with such burdensome regulation. I know it's going to get worse everywhere over time, but man... sorry you have to go through so much. The US is a lot more forgiving. In Chicago last week, I just finished up flying 400' above the Sears Tower (1,812ft AGL within 200' of the building) (never will call it Willis!) and got some epic pictures of downtown Chicago and the Lake Michigan and lots of great video. It was a bit scary and we had the entire blocked ringed with our visual observers, but all went well. We filmed with the Autel EVO II Pro, the DJI Mavic 3 Cine, and our legacy Phantom 4 Pro. The Phantom 4 Pro was the strongest in the wind which was amazing being a 7 year old drone. 😊👍
Oh that’s the easy part of getting licensed. Where to fly is a whole other thing to itself. For example, here in Hamburg we have a rather big port. The regulations from the aviation legislation are one thing and the logically the port authority (NOT aviation) has own regulations. There is also a ”pay to fly”-scheme, pay for the authority and you can have a license to fly closer than the regulations normally allows. As pretty much everything in Germany: it’s an absolute mess 😂
Downtown Chicago must really be epic! Thank you so much for your comment and have nice skies! 🙏
@@leomannisto Well it's not a "pay to fly"- scheme, but besides paying, you have to proof your skills and knowledge of the rules and the physics of flying in order to get the license. To optain it, the A2 Drone pilot licence is a must have. That's the way that only quallified pilots can enjoi reduced limitations, where to fly, which makes sense for upholding safety conditions. Same as in normal traffic, i don't want people driving arround without a driving license and without any clue about the rules and trafic signs.
@@ExHanseat ye i got the a2 certificate so i can fly in cities with the 2s and mav 3, but you still have to stay 50 meters from people so makes it hard considering cities are always full of people. i like to shoot in golden hour so less people around but still a fair few so i just the mini 3 mainly
comparing german rules with the strict US FAA ">250g" rules, most European countries have much more lenient rules. NO mandatory DroneID transponders etc.
Pilot license, A1 or A2, liability insurance, a sticker on the drone and your good to go. For DIY drones, there is also an open class and you can register as many drones as you want or if you have several of the same model, use the same ID. The 50m safety distance rule to people makes a LOT of sense for inexperienced pilots and larger drones, an 250g droe or a mavic pro or even a large octocopter with A2 license can be flown closer, provided it has some safety features like collision warning, redundant batteries and can saferly land if one of the props is damaged.
The whole FPV part is mostly unregulated, since moving below 30m over ground outside of residiential areas is not even considered flying.
tbh, most pilots that fly outside of the city don give a damn about regulations except a safety distance anyways. Just dont annoy people with low passes over their garden and noone will care
Hi Leo, thanks for your video. What spots do you recommend in Hamburg for A1? I also own Avata and need a recommendation to fly in A3 spaces. Any suggestion?
Thank you!
Hamburg is a slightly tricky place to fly (legally) but not impossible.
I’d recommend downloading the ”Droniq” app on your phone. It allows you to input the specifics like A1 or A3 and the starting weight and flight parameters and shows you the restricted areas on the map.
@@leomannisto yes, thanks for reply. I use droniq app. But A3 hard to find actually. Are there aeroclubs or dedicate places you know?
not that I knew... I have heard there are FPV-activity at Öjendorfer Park but that is more on a rumour base and don't know if it's reliable =)
maybe instagram search with fpv and Hamburg would connect you with like minded FPV-pilots?
Thank you Leo for your informative video I also own the DJI Mini 3 Pro having upgraded myself from the Mavic Mini 1. Because the drone is under 250g here in the States we are not required to register drones under that weight but I went through the process of registering first my Mavic Mini 1 and now the Mini 3 Pro and also have an FAA license. I have never heard of requiring insurances for flying a drone, although not a bad idea, however I have legally flown my drone in the UK, the Caribbean and Canada. I have been told those countries recognize the FAA license the same as one's driver's license from the US to drive abroad. I have friends in the Berlin and Frankfurt areas living in Potsdam and Darmstadt I visit every few years and was thinking of bringing my Mini 3 Pro along with me, but I am having second thoughts now if my American FAA license is not recognized as it is in other countries I have traveled to. I am grateful to your video here for letting me know. Hope you are having fun with your Mini 3 Pro!!
I really appreciate your lenghty comment! Very good thoughts! I really can’t tell if FAA license is valid. Technically you don’t need a license but an insurance, that’s a German anomality I think. But maybe your travel insurance or liability insurance (I don’t know if it’s a German anomality too) covers drone flying? Or if someone offers for travellers.
But that’s the thing with Ze Germans, why complicated when impossible is possible! ;)
@@leomannisto Thanks very much again Leo, and yes..... I am long-winded! 🙄;-)
Great video Leo, really enjoyed this this! keep making them 🤙
Thank you so much Christian! Comment like that is always motivating!
@@leomannisto always bro, can't wait to wait the next one
Great videos, Leo! Really like your style and easy to watch with some comedy in there too. Subscribed!
Thank you so much Matthew, so nice to hear feedback like that! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Haha, yes I remember how it was when I first bought my Mini 3 Pro. Having heard all sorts of warnings about rules and regulations against drone flying I did not dare fly it until nearly a week and then only very low and with full caution. The Fly app also made me more nervous with the warnings appearing on the screens. It’s now 10 months and am fully enjoying this wonderful machine.
Greetings from BC, Canada🇨🇦😄
Yes indeed, fun those first flights! But as it seems the regulations are pretty much not endorsed if one has a look at the instagram for example. I presume common sense goes a long way (but won’t recommend to fly anywhere where one shouldn’t either).
BC would be a dream to visit one day, preferably with a drone!
@@leomannisto photography is my main hobby. Recently started to do video and the drone makes it so easy to capture good quality pictures and video. Your video shows that you are already a good filmmaker so it does not matter where you are😄👍🏼
we have general liability insurance which is included with home owners to cover any mishaps like the use of a drone.
I have something similar too! I didn’t even know that they cover drones and thought I need a separate one but that seems not to be the case. Which saves some money!
I had hunting insurance,, I don't remember what It was called... here you can insure anything ,, as long as you specify what it is,, like my scuba gear.. gear must be defined as what....
So I wanted to register my drone or rather myself as a pilot today. How much time with the given learning material did it take you until you passed?
Maybe 15 minutes. It’s not hard!
Remember, if your drone is under 250g you don’t _have_ to get the licence. But it ain’t hard and doesn’t hurt in any way!
Just come across your channel. Great video production, Leo. Really enjoy your style. I too have the DJI Mini 3 Pro.
Thank you so much for your kind words!
I hope I am able to produce more soon!
Hello Leo, got my liability insurance today and soon will register the drone, now the question is where the hell fly drone in Hamburg? Any suggestions? Thanks! 😅
well.. Hamburg is tricky due to the two airports. and countless helipads, embassies and and and and.
One good spot to do some practice could be Moorburg, something to see (the port), legal spot and some space to fly.
Thanks for your video! So how does one get the liability insurance in Germany if not living there? Any companies you recommend by chance?
I am sorry but I can't answer that, I mean I don't know if there is a short term liability insurances available. But I would check your travel insurance too, maybe it covers 3rd parties as well.
I live in Berlin. I bought the Mini 4 Pro. While it was delivered I reviewed the restrictions and the maps where its not allowed. I had the box in my hands and returned it. It's almost impossible in Germany, Austria, Switzerland to fly a drone.
You cannot fly over or less of 100 meters of rivers, lakes, highways, train rails, don't forget to ask a permission (recommend on paper) if you fly over a private property. With that in mind you could say, ok I can fly in some forests... NO, usually those are protected natural parks, and is forbidden. You ended up with some small parks and if you now Germanic culture you know that some one will shout you and complain that you should not doing something, flying your drone in that area, even if its legal. Now confront with papers, arguments and the law in German, not my native language (I'm from Colombia 🇨🇴).
That's why I returned my drone. I used to have a Mavic Air 1. But that was a time ago. Now Germany stopped my dream to fly again 🥲
i feel you brother. I think in Berlin you even have to call the authoroties every time you are about to take off.
That’s pretty much the reason why I barely even fly in Germany, easier to travel abroad and fly there 😂
we have the exact same thoughts about this topic and it’s kind of tragic that there is no such thing as ”common sense” here. not that it should be a wild west but some bits are ever so slightly over-regulated.
The regulations are not a German peculiarity, but are the same throughout the EU; if you want to fly in France, you have to follow the same rules.
Yes, but I'm Germany it's more restricted. More forbidden areas and the people will confront you, even if it's legal. And ask and bother you. If German is not you native language could be hard to argument.
I subscribed because of the Portishead sample. Good video all in all
All countries need videos like these. Latvian regulations are hard to find, better just hope to not get caught 🥸 though luckily the restricted airspace map was easy to find
Indeed!
The German airspace regulations are another chapter and it would take 10 videos to explain where you are allowed to fly.
Luckily they have a rather good app, otherwise it would be impossible to fly.
@@leomannisto could you share the name of the app?
Hello Jaffar! The app is called ”Droniq”. Not the most intuitive user experience but it works to some extent.
Really impressed by your production values, high quality film making with some great shots. As far as the German laws are concerned are they not the same for the rest of Europe? I had to prove insurance to register to fly in Malta last year and that gets me into the rest of Europe with the EU registration, which I proudly display on my drone as I didn’t want to leave anyway!
Thank you! So happy to hear that! 🙏
As far as I know the insurance is different, for example in Germany a must have and in Denmark it’s ”highly recommended” but not obligatory. (The 3rd party liability insurance in Germany is anyway a must have kind of a thing, I mean for all other things as drones as well like washing machines causing a flooding etc etc.)
@@leomannisto That makes sense, I guess I have insurance anyway and maybe if I’d not put the details in it would have gone through anyway in Malta.
I think the 3 rules you are talking about are not only for Germany but for all Europe. Eg. the registration as a pilot is also needed in my country only that it is free of charge. And also the insurance is a must in my country.
you are absolutely right. however, Ze Germans have mastered the art of making everything more complicated as needed. And the _where_ ypu are allowed to fly in Germany is such a mess (compared to Denmark and Finland for example.
You have good editing skills, I’m sure you will get more subs, I’ve supported, and wish you all,the best on your journey, regards
Thank you so much! Really appreciate feedback like that! 🙏🙏🙏
Also you need to have your certificate for A1 / A3 class from the "LBA" with you by flying drones over 250 g.
that is absolutely correct. you do NOT need an A1/A3 for Mini 3 Pro or anything under 250g MTOW. but as the Germans love all kinds of licenses and documents it doesn’t hurt to have one and it takes about 15 minutes to get one so why not.
Yes but you don t need the certificate from LBA. The certificate is actually issued by EASA and if you go there you can take it in many languages, while LBA only provides english and german!
@@mobilelegendsmoskov893 yes, you do not need it (for Mini 3/4/whatever) but it is so easy to obtain that it won’t hurt. And the stuff is good general knowledge over drone ops 👌🏻
Great info, I’m about to get a drone in Germany. Do you know of any rules for commercial flight? For instance making a TH-cam video and getting paid a couple of euros?
I am glad if it was helpful!
No, sorry, I have no idea about commercial flying. Pretty sure it is one hell of a mess regarding to liability/insurance kind of things… but not impossible, I am sure!
Leo, thanks for the tips and video. Which liability insurance do you have, recently bought my DJI mini 3 pro, so have to go through the steps you mentioned. Greetings from Hamburg.
Our liability insurance is at the "Haftpflichtkasse", that is a normal household 3rd party liability insurance which just so happens to cover drone flying too - so check that first. If not you could use something like Check24 to compare various insurances, they have some metrics to analyze which would be a good option.
I am happy to hear you found it informative. Greetings from Hamburg too! Nice skies & all the best!
Hilariously dead-pan delivery 😂
Rain, mist and wind in Hanover? Surely not...😊
Blue skies ahead!
Oh I live in Hamburg and here it is already Autumn! Spend the last week in the Finnish Lapland and even there it was warmer and more sun than in Hamburg 😂😂😂
Let’s see, I have to go to Hanover next week, i’ll try and let my umbrella at home 👍
@@leomannisto There is an unusual ancient monument near the zoo, and Herrenhausen is good too.
I pass through Hanover usually 2-4 times a week (I drive trains as a ”9-5”) but it’s kind of a city one never goes to. Should take the time at some point, it has kind of a laid back vibe, doesn’t it?
On the website you mentioned I read: "In order to be able to drive your drone from category A1 and A3 from 250 grams and above safely and legally, you must first acquire proof of remote pilots. With this certificate, you have a proof in your pocket that you know the rules and can safely guide your drone.". That means that no proof is required for lighter drones. So what registration are you talking about?
The registration and the pilot’s licence are two different things.
If you have a drone with less than 250g (w/ camera) you don’t need a pilot’s licence but you still have to tell the aviation authorities that ”hey, I have a drone with a camera which is less than 250g.”
In short : 249g w/camera - no pilot’s licence, yes registration at the aviation authority.
Doesn’t hurt to have a license though, easy to obtain and as ze germans love all kind of licenses and documents you can whip out one in a pinch and you look more professional 😉😉😉. Fun aside, doesn’t hurt to know a bit of the legislation either. I obtained one although I don’t absolutely need one, took about 15 minutes. And I have one if I some day buy/loan a heavier drone.
Hi, I live in Belgium and I registered my DJI Mini 3 Pro without any hassle. Logged in to the Federal Aviation site with my secure eID, entered my insurance policy number and got my registration certificate a few minutes later. For free.
Just wondering, do I have to register in each European country, like Germany, to fly there as a tourist?
Oh that sounds easy!
I think you are covered, when you are registered in one country within the EU. Free movement and so on (somehow it works with other topics better than others 😉) .
I am interested how it works with some ex-EU countries though…
@@leomannisto Thank you for your feedback Leo.
@@A_Fortunate_Traveler I can confirm that it is enough to register in one country. Interesting thing is that in Germany and in Belgium you have an insurance. In Poland it is not something that is obligatory but of course it is always good to have it :) BTW @leomannisto thanks for that movie it really helps, I wish you more not windy days...
Hallo Leo, thank for the informative video. I am in Hamburg too , I have the Air2s . I have completed A1/A3 , have the insurance and awaiting my registration id. But really struggling to find some places to fly :( . Can you suggest some places to fly around Hamburg ?
Hamburg is a bit problematic (considering it from the regulations point of view) due to airports and whatnot.
One good spot might be Moorburg? Oberfeuer Moorburg
maps.app.goo.gl/XpjvVjCcq38y966u5?g_st=ic
It’s not so crammed with a harbour view.
The Air2s is nice! Nice Skies Sandeep!
@@leomannisto Thank you Leo for the suggestions!
Hello, what insurance is 40€ per year? I only find insurances that are minimum 21€ per month!
For example company called ”Helden” advertises Drone insurance for €39 per annum. www.helden.de
It is strange the rules should be the same in whole Europe? But thanks for the info, in a few weeks I am in Germany, so I controlled everything and learned my insurance does not insure drones anymore. So I will fix that.
_mostly_ the same. The insurance seems to vary as does the ”where”. The German Drone laws regarding the where to fly is such a can of worms. Would be content for the years to come but they are so horror to even remotely understand. 😂
USA laws are pretty brutal too. Reality is that I’m betting many people who make money on TH-cam are not even Part 107 compliance in the USA. Here, technically if you make money using drone you need ti have your Part 107.
I don’t know about the USA laws, but can imagine they are not easy to understand either! Add ”earn $” and everybody is interested! ;)
what are you filming on ,, good picture.,,
Thank you! 🙏
I film with Sony ZV-1 and Canon EOS R with 17-40. So nothing special, cheap used equipment.
But the UE regulation says you can fly if you register in your country, and have a licence to fly, under some restrictions of course...under A1/A3 regulation license...
That doesn't apply to Germany?
yes, you are absolutely right. The Mini 3 Pro does not require the A1/A3 license due to MTOW
@@leomannisto i know that the insurance is required only for drones above 2kg i think...or above 25...
Te EU regulation doesn't oblige you to have insurance fir smaller drones. I have mavic air 2 and don't need insurance.
In Germany you need an insurance for also less than 250g MTOW if it’s equipped with a camera. I really can’t say what happens if a foreign pilot / registered drone causes 3rd party damage and flies without insurance but that might get rather expensive.
And as I said in the video you will not get the eID before you provide the insurance number to the aviation agency.
So this seems to vary a bit by country, for example Denmark recommends an insurance but it is not compulsory.
And exactly this is the problem of the unified regulations. Every country slaps 1000 national regulations on top and they are written in a way that leaves room for interpretation.
And to add insult to the injury the German Federal Aviation Agency only provides the regulations in German.
In English there is a checklist provided by the Deutsche Flugsicherung, the ATS provider in Germany: www.dfs.de/homepage/en/drone-flight/checklist-for-drone-pilots/
@@leomannisto that kinda sucks. But also makes sense. If you make some damage, to be able to pay by insurance like on the car.
But it sucks that if i come there, how do i do that? I have to register the drone under german legislation?!? I'm already registered in my country. And in the EU regulation, says something like, you need to register under the regulation of residency country, and the you can fly in all the EU countries, complying to the EU regulation. No?
That’s a really good question too! I was thinking it on the other way round one day, does my German insurance cover me abroad.
And yes. If something sucks, it is the German bureaucracy. For example: you are not allowed to fly closer than 100m to water, which is declared as a ”federal waterway”. But in the federal state of Hamburg you are allowed to fly over federal waterway. And if you want to fly closer than 1500m to a HEMS helicopter landing site you can do that by paying 200e for a ”general permit” - BUT you have to have A2 license even when flying
I immediately got mi Uas id number, but they didn't charge me. Maybe I should wait more? Also, it's nothing I can stick on the drone! It's just a page where I read "welcome to your personal dashboard for UAS..."
Yes they charge later. I did mine in February and still don’t have the invoice, it takes months.
No, you just print a sticker or write it with a Sharpie on your drone or order a small aluminium plate (amazon have plenty of them!) :)
I lived in France for several years.. seems like they have a paper for a paper. ,, a certificate for a certificate.... got on my damn nerves.
I can imagine their bureaucracy is a nightmare too! :)
I just bought the dji mini 3 pro. I do come to Germany every few years. These are really good tips and good video. But could you address someone from the USA visiting Germany, I am registered in the USA and completed my TRUST certificate and am just a recreational drone flyer right now. I am considering getting my part 107 here in the USA so I can use my drone for my work... But anyway, for recreation flying only the mini 3 pro, and visiting Germany, am I allowed?
Thank you so much Randy! 🙏
I really can’t answer your question. I understood the law as the registration should be done in some European Union country but…
I am pretty sure that the lawmaker never once made a thought that there might be someone from for example USA visiting Germany and wants to fly drones. I don’t know how the FAR regulations regarding drones are but if you bring some kind of licencing number on your drone itself that can’t harm.
Regarding to _where_ to fly it gets really messy and vague and I have to triple check if I am allowed to fly somewhere - all the information is of course in German.
I can try to find information about your issue but can’t promise to find anything, those laws are good guarded secrets ;)
@@leomannisto Understood. Maybe, and I just say maybe, it is the same as a private pilot. I am allowed to fly a manned plane in any country as long as I have a pilots license from my home country. Maybe this will be the same for drones because it is the same agency that will license both in the USA. Please don't go to any trouble, I will ask our FAA their opinion.
@@leomannisto I think that's correct. You need to register with the aviation authority of the country you're travelling to and do the online test. I think you should be able to do all of it online but I don't know how they check your identity online in practice if you don't have citizenship of the local country
Those rules are not complicated, thank you for information
Thank you so much for the feedback! No, they are not complicated but a bit of a hassle :)
I appreciate you so much, I flew about a year ago maybe more on my mini 2 and this wasn’t a thing I’m getting it updated and what not for a trip to France and say I required all this new stuff like insurance and to be registered haha. I was like NOOOOOOOO leave it to the Germans to add more rules to a hobby 🤣😅😭 BUT you explained it PAIN FREE.. best explanation video for this subject I’ve seen. You’re a scholar and a hero 😘
oh dear, that was so nicely written that I’m missing the words to reply. thank you so much! really appreciate.
yes, ze Germans like to over-regulate ”a bit”, I might have a video about it coming soon-ish. ;)
nice skies and all the best!!!!
Just like that 😅😅. In Spain is worst than you think.
And plus the weather in Germany 🇩🇪 is really bad for drons.
Cheers
Oh yes, especially in Hamburg it either rains or is windy 😂
Can I use the 42 min larger battery in Germany? The drone will be slightly heavier than 249g...
If you use 15 minutes to obtain the A1/A3 license it’s not a problem. Germany being Germany there might be someone with a scale if something happens so… 😂
Never though about liability insurance..good point.
That is more or less a must to have here in Germany. Luckily some of them covers pretty much anything where one might be held liable.
I think in Germany you need liability insurance by law just to be a human being standing on a public pavement.
Hi Leo, I've lived in Germany for about 15 years now and still get frustrated at the authorities ability to suck the fun out of any hobby. Their addiction to regulations and restrictions make life here very bland at times.
That being said, I think the rules and to an extent the registration regulations might be needed for the drones as irresponsible people can quickly turn this hobby into something the public will turn against.
If you look at some of the videos posted by some of the young Americans where they are flying close to people in crowds, over heavy traffic, in and around public buildings on business days,and sending drones into the stratosphere right in the flight paths of other aircraft, one can see why regulations might be a good idea.
Unfortunately society moves at the pace of it's slowest, (and most stupid). Germany is a postage stamp of a country with 85 million people in it, being generous 1 in 10 people are morons, that's a lot of morons.
Frohe Weihnachten und guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!
Hello!
Oh I can understand what you are talking about! I’ve been here for 14 years now and feel pretty much the same way.
You indeed have a point and I have to admit that some of the overcomplicated rules indeed make sense - to some extent. But regulating everything to death doesn’t leave any room for common sense in my opinion.
Where to fly would be a good theme for video but it just is such a can of worms… 😂
Thank you so much for your comment, have a Merry Christmas, nice skies and A Happy New Year! All the best!
@@leomannisto "But regulating everything to death doesn’t leave any room for common sense" ;
I agree wholeheartedly, normal people would probably not misuse or fly without due care...but there's always that one reckless fool. We could have a much longer conversation about regulations eating away at common sense and personal responsibility where the bar has to be constantly raised to keep up with the erosion of those things.It's a real 'catch 22'.
buuut that's not a conversation for a youtube comments section ;) I'm in Schleswig Holstein as well and if I see you out and about flying i'll buy you a coffee and we can solve this issue once and for all :)
@@MrRespectable-gw2xd Oh cool! Who knows, maybe we indeed can have a coffee (or rather tea to be honest ;) )
I have to fly more in the S-H then ;)
I though the regulations here in Australia were strict. But it's over the top there👍
Oh, that was just a warm up. Regulations _where_ to fly it’s where ot gets complicated ;)
I was surprised at how little red tape there is for the sub 250gram category here given how fond our various governments are of regulation.
I've not got expectations of making money from my M3P but did the accreditation and registration anyway in case I happen to get something special. All free and online at the moment.
This one popped up in my feed today. Not a bad summary of the sub 250gram rules for Australia.
th-cam.com/video/C4n-Iu1siAw/w-d-xo.html
Useful video. I have just been researching the German drone rules as I am driving across the country in May. I was shocked to see how stringent they are. Even with sub 250s its impossible to fly in city centres, even over rivers. Might have to stick to ground based videos.
The rules about where to fly is a mess.
Yes, rivers - if declared as a federal waterways - are a problem 100m horizontal distance or cross quickly at 100m AGL. BUT for example in Hamburg the river Elbe is an exception and the information about that is to find on the website of the Hamburg Port Authority… I mean the port authority is the first place to look where to _fly_…
So every rule has some kind of an exemption to them - which is not showed on the Droniq app (which otherwise is quite good regarding the restricted zones) but the information is so scattered and all over the place. And usually only in German.
And you can buy the €200 exemption to the exemptions of course, which requires the ”big” A2 license…
Do you know if I can fly in Germany with my Dutch registration?
I would say yes, your drone is registered in an EU country. No problem with that.
However, the insurance here is the interesting part. I really can’t say how that works when someone is visiting Germany with an ”foreign” drone. That’s something that interests me as well. I don’t know if you have and/or your insurance is valid when abroad.
BTW, most drone schools here in Germany offer Dutch pilot licenses. Maybe it’s more straightforward process there.
100%. But have the license from easa, not from dutch gov
I don't get it. What is so overwhelming about the few points (insurance, pilot registration, marking the drone) you mentioned? And, BTW, the requirement to register as a drone pilot is not a German speciality, it applies to every EU country!
Well the process could be more streamlined, don’t you think? It takes a week minimum for something which should take minutes.
As a non-native German speaker it is not always so easy to find the relevant information - either in English or in German not written for lawyers ;)
Actually, Germany is the worst when it comes to finding the information, waiting for every damn thing to be processed by the slowest system of the world and even if you think you do everything right, someone still might find something wrong.
where in Hamburg was this ?
mostly in Rahlstedt and Berne.
It's the irresponsible drone users who fly near airports and places they shouldn't that spoil the hobby for everyone else!
I had to scratch my head when a German started in a Honda 😂
Haha a good one!
I am so sorry to disappoint you but I’m actually Finnish and the Honda is my Danish girlfriend’s car! 😂😂😂
As an American, you are basically the epitome of German stoicism, lol.
So it basically seems like in Germany, there's no exception for recreational flyers. In America, the regulations are fairly lax so long as you A. are flying a drone less than 250 grams in mass, and B. are not flying for commercial purposes, and C. Take a short (like thirty minutes!) online course telling you where not to fly.
Oh thank you! I have to say though that I am Finnish and just live in Germany. 😉
Oh is it so? That’s a good news, I really would like to visit the US of the A some day and good to know that one can take the drone with. 👌🏻
No checking of nfz, by using the Droniq app?????
I have a video coming up about _where_ to fly, this one is only about the registration requirements.
Droniq is generally speaking rather good!
Great video, very helpful 😊
I’m glad to hear that! 🙏
Are those rules up to date? I will visit Germany next week
Yes! Really can’t say how the insurance works when you are visiting from another country ( I am sure this has not crossed the legislators mind even once) but…
Have fun and safe flying! 👍
@@leomannisto do you know any trustworthy insurance company by any chance?
blog.flykit.app/best-drone-insurance-providers-in-germany/amp/ - I found this. Maybe it helps?
If you have a travel insurance, maybe that covers drone insurance as well? That is something I never thought of but that could be possible? And interesting in any case.
What are your experiences with flying a drone and the regulations? Leave a comment!
Bought one, flew one to a tree. No regulations whatsoever 😄
@@timovehkaoja ahahaha expensive crash
@@ChristianPitcher I didn’t break! Still flying to this day 👍🏻
As long as you have your brain on right place people around feel enjoed and friendly🥳
Here in Finland the rules are plentiful. We have to do all the things you describe and take an exam, even two separate exams if you intend to fly anywhere else than in the countryside. So you’re registered many times over by the authorities. Your flights are also being monitored on a need to bases. DJI sells this monitoring capability to authorities, rest assured we have that also in Finland, probably you too over there in Germany. All of these permits you must get in Finland will cost you money and they are all valid for no more than 5 years. So yes, getting the youth into this hobby is not supported by the authorities and have ended many young enthusiasts from being able to have this hobby. Then again there’s also an age limit in Finland. I’ve been into aviation in different forms from an early age. I’m in my middle age by now. The authorities also closed down the only airfield for light aircraft, the Malmi Airport, so that ended also aviation requiring operations from a real runway in the capital area. Hopefully you’ll be luckier in Germany. Have a nice day and fun with your drone mate!❤
And anyways it seems easier than doing it legally in Spain. Despite of this there's plenty of Germans flying drones all over the cities, natural parks and CTRs of the airports in Mallorca
Oh does it? I’ve never read the Spanish laws regarding to drones.
Natural Parks (which there are plenty of!) as well as CTR is no-go in Germany as well (although there are some exceptions to _some_ CTRs, max 50m AGL.
Yes, one sees plenty of footage filmed breaching the rules but I kind of want to avoid that, you are kind of uploading the evidence by yourself.
compared to our tax system, legally flying a drone is like a piece of cake 🤣
To be honest, I’ve never even tried to do a tax declaration in Germany 😂
Look out for those damn birds..they like to attack mine..
Good point! I was a bit scared of them and they were there in the middle of the pond. Didn’t want to scare and/or bother them so overflew a puddle instead 😂
I bet the insurance policy's have gone up for your Leopard 2 Tanks 🤣
Haha! 😂
All your 3 tips are equally valid for all EU countries
Generally speaking yes. For example in Denmark the insurance is not mandatory but highly recommended and in Spain the marking must be fireproof.
So same unified EU-regulations everywhere…;)
Keep it up .. brother
Thanks for the tips. Got my drone, insurance and registration all in one day. Any tips where to fly in Hamburg? I dont want to trigger the German anger.
Oh… where to fly is a bit of a thing…
There is an app called ”droniq” - when you open it you can see that pretty much the whole hamburg is forbidden zone. Logically the regulations regarding waterways are to be found at the port authority, not aviation authority…
Common sense is not a huge thing here so it’s a bit of over-regulated.
It’s not impossible to fly and take all possible regulations into consideration but ain’t simple either.
Moorburg is nice and legal place to get harbour shots!
@@leomannisto Thanks, I just need a field for practice. Not planning to fly to much in Germany. More Iceland and Sweden. Lüneburger Heide is probably all forbidden?
Ok, I got the droniq app and its great. Poorly rated probably because you cant fly anywhere. Not the apps fault… How did they have time to forbid everything in such detail😄
I think it is pretty much ”Naturschutzgebiet”.
Hmm an open field… Öjendorfer Park, Berner Gutspark..
Yes, because of… pretty much everything. But if you read the fine print, you can fly 50m AGL. There is for example a little corner of Binnenalster, where you are able to fly ;)
If you look at the instagram, the drones in central Hamburg seem to be a thing.
it was super useful, although you were super serious 😅
still a beginner with youtube! 😂 I’m so glad to hear you found it useful. 🙏
Great video, let's fly...
Thank you so much! 🙏 hope to be able to fly on the Emerald Island one day too!
@@leomannisto Highly recommended! Ireland has no shortage of great photographty spots
You provided official recommendations. What is like in real life? Not that hard I guess😊 obviously if you dont flight over peoples houses and other stupid things😊
I didn’t find it too extremely complicated to go through that mess. Annoying: yes. Worth it: don’t know BUT:
The fines can be up to €50000 so…
I have read news about a man who took off before the GPS lock activated on a parking lot of a supermarkt near an airport, flew up to 120cm over the ground before the GPS did a forced landing (so literally lower than the lamp posts on the parking lot) and an very alert pedestrian alarmed the police and the fine was €700… of course it’s to everyone to judge the risk, can’t say what is the probability of being caught while doing something forbidden, but it is possible.
And that’s kind of the thing here, I come from a country where people pretty much mind their own business but in Germany it’s… a bit… different.
I’d advice to play by the book, but first and foremost use common sense 😉. I am just generally lazy and not that keen to have a conflict or even a discussion with someone, quite like to be left alone ;)
@@leomannisto thanks for an advice. At least know what kind of workarounds would need to do if want to fly in DE for fun in forest;) As occasionally visiting it;)
Fly slow and low and check that the forest is not in an National Park or nature preservation area. 😜.
But I think common sense and - if someone gets annoyed - staying cool goes a long way. 👌🏻
Have a good flight and nice skies!
Best drone .funny guy so . I subscribed
Indeed! It’s a great little machine!
Thank you so much, appreciate!
Try Spain. It's unbelievable.
I can only imagine. I recently tried to find information about Portugal and it seemed impossible too 👍
lol I dont follow laws I do my own thing if you do you will go crazy with so many restrctions.
I thought about taking my Mini 3 Pro last summer but then thought the airport staff in Hamburg Airport are a pain in the arse! Heck, I had to pay a surcharge just to take my iPad onto the flippin' plane!
Oh yes and the queues. I’d also avoid checked in baggage, might take an hour or two to get yours on arrival. Or weeks.
I quite like airports like Helsinki with the new technology, no need to take liquids or electronics out and the 100ml in a 1l bag is also history so BYOB is not a problem there.
🔴 Mini 3 and the German 3 🤣
The t(h)rees are ewerywhere!
European* drone laws. You seem to keep forgetting an unelected dictatorship dictates what you can and can not do.
Nothing realy new and the mentioned rules apply to all member states of the EU. So registration and insurance are mandatory in the whole EU and pretty much in the rest of the world too. Also remember, ther is no place in this world where the luminos grey is so pretty and shiny as in Hamburg. 😜😂
Not quite true.
For example Denmark and Finland does not require an insurance, only recommend. Registration yes.
Haha that is true, especially the last days it’s hard to believe it’s June!