🖐 In this blog post we’ll share all law links and known rules about recreational and commercial drone use in Luxembourg. Give a 👍 at the end of this post if you enjoyed it & feel free to ask any questions or share your experience in The Forum. Keep in mind that the content below is updated to the best of our ability & does not replace official sources & your own research.
📰 Important Update 16/11/19: Luxembourg's drone rules have been updated by the Civil Aviation of the country in anticipation of the common EU drone regulation set for July 2020. Our post has been updated according thanks to Charles P. Beware of any other content not reflecting this change as its an important one.
💡 This article is also available in French
Recreational vs Commercial drone use in Luxembourg
Luxembourg does not differentiate commercial & recreational drone uses much. However, both are subject to the existing rules of full-size manned aircraft operations as it simply doesn't have any dedicated regulation today.
✅ In Luxembourg, aviation regulation falls under the Directorate of Civil Aviation of Luxembourg & can be contacted anytime via:
Email: civilair@av.etat.lu
Phone: (+352) 247 74900
Can I bring my drone to Luxembourg?
✅ Currently, there doesn't seem to be any restrictions on bringing drones within Luxembourg as long as your import is considered as legitimate (generally one drone per person).
🚨 Be aware of the airline you purchase to travel as some main ones will only accept your drone on-board if its batteries are detached & placed in a firecase during travel time. Most airlines will have a battery voltage limit based on the recommendation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). You can find more info about a specific airline here.
💡 Smart! Get your drone batteries' firecase today and make sure you're complying with aviation safety rules.
Where can I fly my drone in Luxembourg?
✅ Luxembourg recently created an interactive map showing permanent and temporary restricted zones. It is important you check it our before each flight as these are updated regularly.
Luxembourg Drone Fly Map
🌲 National / Marine parks & reserves might be on a case by case permission & you might need to check directly with the local park or reserve authorities. 🐳
💡 Smart! Pack some spare drone batteries, you never know how close is the next power plug overseas. Also make sure you have a travel adaptor for Luxembourg.
Recreational & Commercial Drone use in Luxembourg
🚨 To fly a drone in Luxembourg, you will systematically need a to apply for a permit and register your drone. An insurance is also a must if wiling to discover the country from above.
What drone permits apply in Luxembourg?
Note that there are 2 kinds of permits you can apply for:
1/ General Permit: a permit that will allows: you to fly:
a drone weighting less than 4kg
at a maximum altitude of 50 m
Note that this permit will be valid until November 2020, month when the local authorities expect to switch to the European common drone rules system.
2/ Specific Permit: a permit that allows you to fly
a drone weighting less than 4 kg
at a maximum altitude of 50 m
by night
within restricted zones
Note that this permit is issued per flight and cannot be used for any other purposes. When located in a restricted zone, you will need to be in permanent contact of the organisation or person in charge of the restricted airspace.
✅ Once your permit granted, you will need to follow a few rules:
fly your drone away from railways, highways, animals, people & respect individuals' privacy. Also you have to mark the flight perimeter to aware public around you (no one allowed to enter it).
fly at least 5 km away from airports (2 km away from heliports) & give priority to all other categories of aircraft. If you see a plane or helicopter during your flight, land immediately your drone.
In case of any malfunction, you must immediately land your drone.
How to register my drone use in Luxembourg?
The registration process requires you to send to complete the ADM310-1 form with information such as;
your full details (& then company's when relevant).
the full details of your planed flight
a copy of your insurance covering your drone activity in Luxembourg (must comply with EC Regulation No. 785/2004 of 21 April 2004)
if you're a business, you will also need to include a certified copy of the business license, a certificate of affiliation to the Social Security of your employee(s).
Once completed, you should send it to the civil aviation via:
Email: civilair@av.etat.lu
or Mail: Direction de l’aviation civile, 4 rue Lou Hemmer, L-1748 Luxembourg
🕔 You will need to send your completed form at least 10 days before your intended first day flight. If you not respect this or do not send a fully completed form, your application will be rejected automatically.
💲 If you intend to fly your drone for a commercial purpose in the country, you will need to pay a 619,73€ one time fee (per drone operator). You might send the funds via international bank transfer to IBAN LU13 1111 0011 4679 0000 (BIC: CCPLLULL) mentioning: "Article 6 du règlement grand-ducal du 8 août 1985, Direction de l'Aviation Civile, Demande de travail aérien" ✅ You do not need a drone pilot's license to fly your drone in Luxembourg.
What do I risk for flying a drone illegally in Luxembourg?
🚨 The amount & scope of the fine will depend on the nature & severity of your infraction. The judges will also evaluate if you intentionally committed the infraction and/or if you had any commercial purposes to do such.
Once you got everything in order, you can start flying above Luxembourg's awesome landscapes and create videos like this one:
✅ Please leave a comment or update the Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone in Luxembourg! Have fun and safe flight!
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Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone regulations.
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