Airffic InspectionThe future guide to drone inspection

REGULATIONS / FR

France: drone rules for inspection

France applies the EU drone rules with AlphaTango registration, DSAC authorisations in the Specific category, and prefect derogations for night and height. The national scenarios S-1 to S-3, used for linear-infrastructure inspection, ended on 1 January 2026, leaving STS-01 (C5) and STS-02 (C6) declarations or PDRA/SORA-based authorisations. Drones over 800 g need national electronic signalling, built-up-area flights fall in the Specific category, and image capture is banned in ZICAD zones.

Checked against official sources

Fields are recorded in the language of the research notes.

Authority民間航空総局 (DGAC) / 民間航空安全局 (DSAC) / Direction générale de l'aviation civile (DGAC); its Direction de la sécurité de l'aviation civile (DSAC) issues Specific-category authorisations; prefects grant local derogations (night, height, urban Open flights)
Main frameworkEU Regulations 2019/947 and 2019/945, plus the French arrêté of 3 Dec 2020 on airspace use by unmanned aircraft (amended 23 Dec 2025) and related national provisions (restricted image-capture zones ZICAD listed by an order of 2 Jan 2023).
RegistrationOperator registration on AlphaTango is required before any activity for drones over 250 g, or for non-toy drones with sensors able to collect personal data (camera, microphone). Specific-category operators must also be registered on AlphaTango and hold an operations manual (Manex).
Remote IDNational electronic signalling (signalement électronique) is mandatory for drones and model aircraft over 800 g (exemptions for some model-club sites and tethered aircraft); foreign operators flying over 800 g in France must register on AlphaTango and fit a French electronic identification device. Since 1 Jan 2024 Specific-category drones must carry an EU electronic signalling (Remote ID) device.
Pilot licensingOpen category: minimum age 14 in France; A1/A3 online exam (40 questions, 75% pass) and A2 exam (30 questions, 75%) with practical training. Honour declarations for the BAPD are no longer valid since 1 Jan 2026. STS: theoretical certificate plus practical training attestation for STS-01/STS-02. Equivalence of the old national theoretical certificate to the STS certificate (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Risk categoriesOpen / Specific (STS-01 with C5 drones, STS-02 with C6 drones by declaration; SORA-based authorisation from DSAC via the METEOR platform; French-language templates for PDRA-G01, G02, G03, S01, S02) / Certified. PDRA-S01/S02 extend STS-01/STS-02 conditions to drones without C5/C6 marks (VLOS). National scenarios S-1, S-2 and S-3 no longer exist since 1 Jan 2026.
BVLOSBVLOS is possible under STS-02 (C6 drone), PDRA-G01 to G03 (BVLOS over sparsely populated areas with defined airspace/trajectory conditions) or a SORA-based DSAC authorisation. The former national S-2 scenario used for linear-infrastructure inspection ended on 1 Jan 2026: new declarations stopped on 1 Jan 2024, and the government stated (JO answer of 15 Jul 2025) that EU law allows no derogation or extension. Flights above 120 m additionally need agreement from regional airspace-management committees.
Night & over peopleOpen category: night flight prohibited unless the prefect grants a derogation (request at least 30 days ahead); no overflight of gatherings; in public airspace within built-up areas (agglomération) Open-category flight is prohibited, so urban work falls in the Specific category. Specific category: derogations from a standard scenario for night or maximum height must be requested from the prefect at least 30 days in advance. A ministry answer (JO 11 Sep 2025) described plans for prefect-authorised professional urban Open-category flights; whether the 23 Dec 2025 amendment enacted this (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Near structuresImage capture is prohibited in ZICAD zones (sensitive sites, list fixed by the order of 2 Jan 2023); the prior obligation to declare aerial image capture was repealed. Other restrictions (regulated airspace, national-park cores, establishments signalling a low-altitude overflight ban) are published by the SIA and on the Géoportail map (0-120 m, mainland; does not show private helipads, seasonal nesting bans or temporary zones). Specific distances to nuclear plants or other infrastructure were not read (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Indoor & confinedWhether flights inside closed buildings are outside the drone rules (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Imaging & privacyPeople present must at least be informed when a sensor can record them; publishing images that identify people needs their consent (or the owner's for property). GDPR/CNIL apply. The remote pilot is strictly liable for damage to people and property on the ground and must check that the activity is insured.
Recent changes1 Jan 2024: no new national-scenario declarations; EU electronic signalling required in the Specific category. 23 Dec 2025: amendment of the arrêté of 3 Dec 2020 (airspace use). 1 Jan 2026: end of national scenarios S-1/S-2/S-3, full use of EU STS-01/STS-02; BAPD honour declarations invalid. Feb 2026: SORA guide version; March 2026: new Specific-category guide; July 2026: new transition FAQ (could not be opened: page under maintenance).

Sources

Sources checked: 2026-10-22