Guide to UAS operations in Sweden

In urban areas such as densely populated cities, drones may be used with extreme caution. It is never allowed to fly over assemblies of people, however a C0 (and C1 drone) may be flown over uninvolved people if it cannot be avoided. Before starting the UAS operation, the remote pilot should assess the area and should reasonably expect that no uninvolved person will be overflown.

Implementing regulation (EU) 2019/947
AMC1 UAS.OPEN.020(1) and (2) UAS operations in subcategory A1

(a) For UAS in class C1, before starting the UAS operation, the remote pilot should assess the area and should reasonably expect that no uninvolved person will be overflown. This evaluation should be made taking into account the configuration of the site of operation (e.g. the existence of roads, streets, pedestrian or bicycle paths), and the possibility to secure the site and the time of the day. In case of an unexpected overflight, the remote pilot should reduce as much as possible the duration of the overflight, for example, by flying the UAS in such a way that the distance between the UA and the uninvolved people increases, or by positioning the UAS over
a place where there are no uninvolved people.

(b) It is accepted that UAS in class C0 or privately built UAS with MTOMs less than 250 g may fly over uninvolved people; however, this should be avoided whenever possible, and where it is unavoidable, extreme caution should be used.

In suburban areas, for example residential areas, uninvolved people can most likely be avoided. However, it can be a challenge to maintain at least 150m to from residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas. Therefore the most suitable drones to use would be C0 and C1, or C2 in low speed mode. Remember to apply the 1:1 rule for C2 drones.

Please mind the noise in residential areas.

Implementing regulation (EU) 2019/947,
AMC1 UAS.OPEN.020(1) and (2) UAS operations in subcategory A1:

(a) For UAS in class C1, before starting the UAS operation, the remote pilot should assess the area and should reasonably expect that no uninvolved person will be overflown. This evaluation should be made taking into account the configuration of the site of operation (e.g. the existence of roads, streets, pedestrian or bicycle paths), and the possibility to secure the site and the time of the day. In case of an unexpected overflight, the remote pilot should reduce as much as possible the duration of the overflight, for example, by flying the UAS in such a way that the distance between the UA and the uninvolved people increases, or by positioning the UAS over
a place where there are no uninvolved people.

(b) It is accepted that UAS in class C0 or privately built UAS with MTOMs less than 250 g may fly over uninvolved people; however, this should be avoided whenever possible, and where it is unavoidable, extreme caution should be used.

In sparsely populated areas with no residential, commercial, industrial or recreational areas close by (150m or more), the usage of UAS is less restriced. Always remember to maintain an altitude of 120m AGL or less and keep required distance to uninvolved persons.

It is never allowed to fly over assemblies of people, however a C0 drone may be flown over uninvolved people if it cannot be avoided.

Implementing regulation (EU) 2019/947
AMC1 UAS.OPEN.020(1) and (2) UAS operations in subcategory A1

(a) For UAS in class C1, before starting the UAS operation, the remote pilot should assess the area and should reasonably expect that no uninvolved person will be overflown. This evaluation should be made taking into account the configuration of the site of operation (e.g. the existence of roads, streets, pedestrian or bicycle paths), and the possibility to secure the site and the time of the day. In case of an unexpected overflight, the remote pilot should reduce as much as possible the duration of the overflight, for example, by flying the UAS in such a way that the distance between the UA and the uninvolved people increases, or by positioning the UAS over
a place where there are no uninvolved people.

(b) It is accepted that UAS in class C0 or privately built UAS with MTOMs less than 250 g may fly over uninvolved people; however, this should be avoided whenever possible, and where it is unavoidable, extreme caution should be used.

Definition of uninvolved persons:
Persons who are not participating in the UAS operation or who are not aware of the instructions and safety precautions given by the UAS operator.

You can find a complete definition in Cover Regulation in (EU) 2019/947, GM1 Article 2(18) Definitions.

Defintion of assemblies of people
(Cover regulation in (EU) 2019/947, GM1 Article 2(3) Definitions)

Assemblies of people have been defined by an objective criterion related to the possibility for an individual to move around in order to limit the consequences of an out-of-control UA. It was indeed difficult to propose a number of people above which this group of people would turn into an assembly of people: numbers were indeed proposed, but they showed quite a large variation. Qualitative examples of assemblies of people are:
(a) sport, cultural, religious or political events;
(b) beaches or parks on a sunny day;
(c) commercial streets during the opening hours of the shops; and
(d) ski resorts/tracks/lanes.

It is never allowed to fly over assemblies of people, however a C0 drone may be flown over uninvolved people if it cannot be avoided.

Implementing regulation (EU) 2019/947
AMC1 UAS.OPEN.020(1) and (2) UAS operations in subcategory A1

(b) It is accepted that UAS in class C0 or privately built UAS with MTOMs less than 250 g may fly over uninvolved people; however, this should be avoided whenever possible, and where it is unavoidable, extreme caution should be used.

Definition of uninvolved persons:
Persons who are not participating in the UAS operation or who are not aware of the instructions and safety precautions given by the UAS operator.

You can find a complete definition in Cover Regulation to (EU) 2019/947, GM1 Article 2(18) Definitions.

Flying over highways

Other roads

*1:1 rule applies when hovering close to a road or flying alongside.

Please remember to also maintain the required distances according to A1, A2 and A3.

Source: EASA | Guidelines on operations in the open and specific category (PDF)

When flying an unmanned aircraft within a horizontal distance of 50 metres from an artificial obstacle taller than 105 metres, the maximum height of the UAS operation may be increased up to 15 metres above the height of the obstacle at the request of the entity responsible for the obstacle.

Download the illustration (PNG)

When operating an UAS in hilly terrain, it may be operated 120m or above the starting point provided is does not exceed 120m above ground level.

Download the illustration (.png)

Most larger airports in Sweden is surrounded by a CTR. Within the CTR, an UAS may be flown to a maximum altitude of 50m AGL, or 10m AGL in a military airport CTR. Closer than 5km to any runway, you need permission from air traffic control regardless of the altitude. Please remember that the surroundings of the airport must considered. If the area is densely populated you shall apply applicable safety measures etc.

In the vicinity of a heliport

Within 1000m of a heliport, an UAS may only be flown after coordinating with the heliport.

Always visit the dronechart prior to flying!

Contact information to all Swedish Air Traffic Control services can be found in the Swedish AIP GEN 3.3.

A restricted area may be permanently or temporary established. Either to protect something in the area, for example nuclear power plant, or to protect other air traffic outside of the area from the operations in the area.

To fly in a restricted area, you need permission.

Go to information about permission to fly in restricted area.

Always visit the Dronechart prior to flying!

A danger area is established to protect and warn other air traffic of high risk activities in an area. For example UAS operations in BVLOS, military activity, rock blasting at a construction site etc.

Flying in danger areas is not prohibited, however, it should be avoided unless the operator can guarantee it can be performed without increased risk due to the ongoing activity.

Dangers areas are notified via AIP SUP and NOTAM, they are also usually published on the Dronechart.

When operating an UAS within 150m from a recreational area, C3, C4 and UAS with no class with a MTOM above 250g is not allowed according to required distances in A3 (UAS.OPEN.040).

When using C0-C2 or UAS with no c-class lighter than 250g, maitain required distances according to A1 and A2.

There is no definition of a recreational area in the regulation. A recreational area may vary with season depending on the number of persons visiting the area. For example a beach during summer. An assesment of the area is required by the operator prior to each flight.

National Park is the strongest protection an area of valuable nature can be granted. It is only granted to the finest and most valuable areas in the Swedish landscape. The protection is needed for both nature’s own sake and for human sake. By protecting valuable nature from being destroyed, or from disappearing, we can preserve our common natural and cultural heritage.

National parks are usually restriced airspace, you need permission to operate an UAS in a National Park. More information is available on the Dronechart.

Go to information about permission to fly in restricted area.

Takeoff and landing within a nature reserve may be prohibited. The County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen) is usually responsible for managing protected nature. You can read more on their website, there is also a map of protected nature available.

Protected nature | Länsstyrelsen (lansstyrelsen.se)

Always be extra careful and respect the wildlife and the nature.

If you are uncertain whether you are allowed to operate an UAS or not in the area, please contact Länsstyrelsen.

Always visit the Dronechart prior to flying.

If flying is allowed, please rememver to maintain required distances according to A1, A2 and A3.

When operating a drone using googles (FPV), you need an observer. The observer must be in direct contact with the remote pilot, using phones or other communication devices is not allowed.

Remember to maintain required distances according to A1, A2 and A3.

Impl. Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Annex part A:
GM1 UAS.OPEN.060(4) Responsibilities of the remote pilot

The remote pilot may be assisted by a UA observer helping them to keep the UA away from obstacles. The UA observer must be situated alongside the remote pilot in order to provide warnings to the remote pilot by supporting them in maintaining the required separation between the UA and any obstacle, including other air traffic.

UA observers may also be used when the remote pilot conducts UAS operations in first-person view (FPV), which is a method used to control the UA with the aid of a visual system connected to the camera of the UA. In any case, including during FPV operations, the remote pilot is still responsible for the safety of the flight.

As the UA observer is situated alongside the remote pilot and they must not use aided vision (e.g. binoculars), their purpose is not to extend the range of the UA beyond the VLOS distance from the remote pilot. Exceptions are emergency situations, for instance, if the pilot must perform an emergency landing far from the pilot’s position, and binoculars can assist the pilot in safely performing such a landing.

When operating at night or in poor visibility, ensure that a green flashing light on the unmanned aircraft is activated.

Definition of night
The hours between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight. Civil twilight ends in the evening when the centre of the sun’s disc is 6 degrees below the horizon and begins in the morning when the centre of the sun’s disc is 6 degrees below the horizon.
(Implementing regulation (EU) 923/2012 - SERA, article 2(97))

Privately built UAS may operate according to:

- A1 if MTOM less than 250g and speed less than 19m/s
- A3 if MTOM 250g or more

UAS with MTOM less than 250g

UAS with MTOM 250g or more

AIP SUP

AIP SUP is normally used to publish temporary changes to AIP that lasts longer than three months, or changes that contains large amount of text and/or graphic. AIP SUP for Sweden can be found on LFV AroWeb.

Hover over AIS in the top menu, press "Swedish IAIP" and navigate to AIP SUP.

NOTAM

NOTAM is a service that continuously publishes aeronautical information which either changes before the AIP has been updated, or when it concerns information of a temporary nature, such as a closed runway at an airport.

AIP SUP for Sweden can be found on LFV AroWeb. Hover over AIS in the top menu and choose which NOTAM series you want to read.

NOTAM and AIP SUP are usually published on the Dronechart.

AMC1 UAS.OPEN.020 (1) and (2) UAS operations in subcategory A1

It is accepted that UAS in class C0 or privately built UAS with MTOMs less than 250 g may fly over uninvolved people; however, this should be avoided whenever possible, and where it is unavoidable, extreme caution should be used.

AMC1 UAS.OPEN.020 (1) and (2) UAS operations in subcategory A1

For UAS in class C1, before starting the UAS operation, the remote pilot should assess the area and should reasonably expect that no uninvolved person will be overflown. This evaluation should be made taking into account the configuration of the site of operation (e.g. the existence of roads, streets, pedestrian or bicycle paths), and the possibility to secure the site and the time of the day.

In case of an unexpected overflight, the remote pilot should reduce as much as possible the duration of the overflight, for example, by flying the UAS in such a way that the distance between the UA and the uninvolved people increases, or by positioning the UAS over a place where there are no uninvolved people.

UAS released on the market prior to January 1st 2024 with no class marking are only allowed to fly according to:

A1 if MTOM less than 250g
A3 if MTOM 250g or more

UAS released on the market after January 1st 2024 are only allowed to be used with permission from the Swedish Transport Agency unless used at designated model flying area.

UAS with MTOM less than 250g

UAS with MTOM 250g or more