Can you fly a drone in Georgia and is registration required?
Registration, the online test and open-category rules.
Short answer
Drones are allowed in Georgia under Civil Aviation Agency rules, and the operator of a drone of 250 grams or more must register for free on the unmanned aircraft platform. In the open category you may not fly higher than 120 metres above the ground, lose sight of the drone or fly over crowds of people. Flights in prohibited and restricted areas are possible only with authorisation, and the zones are shown on airspace.gov.ge.
Why
- The Civil Aviation Agency registers drones weighing 250 g or more and their operators through an online platform.
- The open category is divided into subcategories A1, A2 and A3, which require an online test with a 75% pass mark, and the certificate is valid for 5 years.
- If the open-category conditions are not met, the specific category with the Agency's authorisation is needed.
Details
On the registration platform you fill in details of the drone and the operator, and registration is free. The operator's registration number is marked on the drone where it is easy to see. The test for subcategories A1, A2 and A3 is also free. A2 requires a 30-metre distance from uninvolved people, and A3 at least 150 metres from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational zones.
Drone classes by mass: C0 up to 250 grams, C1 up to 900 grams, C2 up to 4 kilograms, C3 and C4 up to 25 kilograms. General rules for visitors are collected in What is banned for tourists in Georgia and what they are fined for and How Georgians treat tourists and how to behave.
Tip
Register and take the free test on the unmanned aircraft platform in advance, and check the location on the airspace.gov.ge zone map before flying.
What may differ
Requirements depend on the drone's mass and class and on the category of flight. For separate registration conditions for foreigners, ask the Agency's UAS department at [email protected].
Common misconception
Registering a drone in Georgia is paid and complicated, so tourists just fly without it.
What actually happens
Registering drones of 250 g or more and the online test on the platform are free, and the test for the open category is mandatory.
People also ask
- Do you need to register a drone in Georgia?
Sources
Do not fly over crowds or in prohibited zones without authorisation. Check the official platform before flying.
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