Keith Ericksen 
Welcome to our beginner’s guide to getting know about France Drone Laws. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know and stay updated about France drone laws. We also will be covering the following information such as where to get the drone permit for this country, as well as the best drones to fly, travel guides, and contact information to the civil aviation authority of the stated country. Without further ado, let’s dive into the details:
- France Drone Laws & Regulations
- How to get Drone Permit for France
- Drone traveling tips to France
- Best Drones to Buy for France
- Drone aerial stills & videos
- Civil Aviation Authority Office contact information
Table of Contents:
An aerial video of France, featuring beautiful landscape with mix of medieval castle, buildings blend with modern society. France is home to the land of beautiful aerial stills and footage that makes it popular for commercial drone operators.
Introduction to France Drone Laws
Before you can fly your drone in France, you need to be familiar with the applicable drone laws and regulations in that country. You are legally allowed to fly your drone in France. Both recreational and commercial drone operators who are looking to fly their drones in France needs to follow these rules to fully comply with them:
- Maintain a clear visual line of sight of your drone at all the time.
- Ensure that you have a valid insurance that covers your recreational drone flight sessions.
- Don’t fly higher than 150 meters above the ground level.
- Fly your drones outdoors all the time, never indoor.
- Maintain at least 30 meters away from people, buildings, and vehicles that are not part of the drone’s flight operations.
- Fly when the weather conditions are good.
- Fly during the daylight hours.
- Respect the privacy of people when capturing stills and recording videos.
- Don’t fly your drone in crowded areas or prohibited zones.
- If a drone weighs more than 25kg, you will be required to obtain authorization from the French Civil Aviation Administration Office.
Getting Drone Permit for France
You don’t need to get a drone permit to operate your quadcopter in France as long as they are consumer-based and weigh less than 4.4 pounds. Mainly because the commercial rules for a drone are largely in developmental phase — which means there is no commercial drone permit for France at the current moment.
However, to ensure that you are flying your drones for commercial purposes, you need to be sure to follow the rules. Especially respecting the privacy of individuals since European nations values privacy more. This is the same true for every other country. Follow these France drone laws and you will be able to fully enjoy your drone flights hassle-free.
back to menu ↑Drone Traveling Tips to France
There are several methods to travel to another country with your drone. Read our important traveling tips to get the latest scoop on the best drone traveling practices and become informed. In this section, we will be covering what to do if you are traveling by air or by sea.
Traveling by Air
If you decided to travel by air and would like to bring your drone with you. You need to be aware that the airlines can only reimburse up to $1,000 for loss and damage to your property, including drone and its gear. That’s because of the Montreal Convention which limits how much airlines are allowed to pay you up to a maximum value of $1,000 — no matter how expensive your drone is.
Therefore, we highly encourage bringing your drone and its accessories as carry-on all the times. Furthermore, the drone batteries can’t be in the check luggages. Because they are prone to extreme temperature that poses fire hazards when undergoing temperature change. In rare circumstances, some airlines have strict policy and you will be only given the option to check luggage. To avoid this from happening, we recommend buying these fireproof drone battery bags:
- Colcase Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 198 x 150 x 135mm)
- Apex RC Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 240 x 65 x 180mm)
- Realacc Upgraded Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 220 x 155 x 115mm)
Traveling by Sea
Generally, you are allowed to bring your drone with you. But that depends on the cruise’s policy regarding to use of the drones. The only time you can operate your drone is when you are on land, never while the ship is in process of ferrying to other country. Flying the drones at the ports is also not allowed. Because each cruise companies are unique, we encourage you to check and familiarize with their policy on drones. Reach out to get more information if possible.
Best Drones for France
These are the best drones for traveling around the world such as France due to their flying specifications and camera capabilities. Be sure to read each drone review guide by visiting each link so that you can decide which quadcopter you want to buy before going on a vacation.
Alternatively, you can visit our shop to see a wide selection of prosumer drones that are currently for sale on the best price deals. We only recommend the best drones for traveling that are portable, compact and equipped with powerful camera capabilities, while striving to provide affordable options for those who are looking to get started.
back to menu ↑Contact Information
If you need additional information about drone regulations and flying in France. Keep it in mind that we try our best to provide the latest information about drone laws. Because the drone laws are not universal, they can wildly vary from a country with lax regulations to another country that has strict regulations. For any drone regulations that you are not sure, feel free to contact the Aviation Inspector directly:
France Civil Aviation Authority Office
Tel: +33 1 58 09 36 94
Fax: +33 1 58 09 38 64
URL: www.dgac.fr
Keith Ericksen
Hello, welcome to UAV Adviser! My name is Keith Ericksen. I am a commercial licensed drone operator. Flying and talking about the drones is my passion. Whether it is toy-grade to professional-grade quadcopters. On my leisure, I enjoy socializing with friends, play video games, hiking, traveling and reading. If you have a project that needs our drone services, please contact us via Hire-A-Pilot page.
