Unmanned Aircraft DRONES – UAVs in Cyprus In accordance with the Civil Aviation Law in Cyprus “an aircraft is any device that can fly”

Law - Regulation L213(Ι)2002/2015 Act 402 /2015 Act 403/2015 The operation and exploitation of unmanned aircraft within the airspace of Cyprus, are governed by the Civil Aviation Law (N213 (I) 2002/2015), a Decree specifying Conditions for Drones carrying out flights in the Republic, and a DCA Decision Excluding Drones below 25 Kg from the Obligation of aircraft registration

Safety Aircraft Life Property National Security Privacy The Law is intended to contribute to the safe and efficient operation of drones and in accordance with specific conditions. Unmanned and autonomous aircraft, from the smaller consumer device used for recreation to the larger aircraft used for commercial or other purposes, are all subject to the provisions of the legislation, which aims to assure the safety of aircraft in flight and to protect life and property on the ground.

UAV Categories Open Category Special Category Exemptions In accordance with the regulations, the operation of unmanned aircraft is distinguished in two categories, the open category and the special category, while UAV with a mass smaller than 25 Kg are exempt from registration requirements.

UAV Open Category (1) Mass < 3 Kg Recreation Flight below 50 m Notification uav@dca.mcw.gov.cy Drones with a total take-off mass below 3 kg, which do not conduct commercial activities belong to the open category. They can operate to a height not exceeding 50 meters (170 feet) from the ground or water. The UAVs that fall into this category are not required to hold a permit by the Department of civil aviation in order to conduct flights in the air space, but need to notify the Department by emailing a notification form that is available on the DCA website, to uav@dca.mcw.gov.cy

UAV Open Category (2) Visual Line of Contact Clear of Residential Areas 8 Km from Airports Military Areas Privacy Safety of UAV operations in the open category is assured through operational restrictions and rules. The most important of these rules is that the operator Always maintains Visual contact with the UAV, at a distance not exceeding 500 meters, possesses the required training for the handling of UAVs, maintains a distance of 1 km away from residential areas and 500 meters away from individual buildings, people, animals, etc., maintains a distance of at least 8 Km from airports, does not overfly prohibited areas, military facilities, utility facilities, archaeological sites, or other private establishments unless with permission of the owner, and finally the operator is responsible to comply with the legislation concerning the respect for private life and the safeguarding of personal data.

Special Category (1) Commercial Activities, or Mass above 3 Kg Drones that conduct commercial activities or that have a total take-off mass of 3 kg or more, belong to the Special category.

Special Category (2) UAV Operating License UAV Pilot License Liability Insurance coverage Below 120 m (400 feet) In order to operate a UAV within the Special Category it is required to possess a UAV Operating License a UAV Pilot License, and Liability Insurance coverage Operation is restricted below 400 feet and in accordance with specific conditions.

Exemptions Mass > 25 Kg – Registration required Mass > 150 Kg – Normal Aircraft Operating at Model Airfields exempted UAVs with a mass below 25 Kg are not required to be registered. However a notification form needs to be filed with the Department of Civil Aviation. UAVs with a mass above 150 Kg need to apply the full scope of the Civil Aviation Law and are treated as normal aircraft. UAVs operating within licensed model airfields are not covered by the Drone Decree.

Oversight - Enforcement Safety of Life and Property National Security Privacy Environment Oversight of this new aviation domain and enforcement of the rules is a challenge both to the DCA and the Police. The law is meant to protect Life, Property, the National Security, Privacy and the Environment and for this purpose it foresees that, anyone who violates the Ordinance and acts without the required authorization or approval of the competent authority, or outside the limits of the authorisation that has been granted, commits an administrative offence and is subject to the conditions laid down in the Civil Aviation Law (fines, suspension or revocation of a license). The open category is believed to be the area with the greatest difficulty in enforcement and where education of users as well as cooperation with organised groups and users clubs can bring most benefits.

European Legislation Open Category (low risk) Special Category (moderate risk) Certified Category (high risk) European Legislation the European approach to drones, aims on a harmonized and flexible European legal framework which will address the public need for safety while at the same time allowing this progressive and creative industry to grow. At the request of the European Parliament and the Council, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) was tasked to prepare regulations for the use of UAVs within the European Union. Currently EASA is in the process of consultation with interested parties, of the draft proposal, which taking a Risk management approach, separates the operation of UAVs in three subcategories: (a) The Open Category (low risk), whose safety will be ensured by the implementation of specific operational restrictions, weight restrictions, as well as specific requirements regarding the safety of the product itself (drone). (b) The Special Category (moderate risk) which will require authorisation from the National Aviation Authorities, following the calculation and assessment of the operational risk of activity/operation required. This category has met the acceptance of National Aviation Authorities within the EU. (c) Certified Category (high risk) requiring certification levels equivalent to those required for the certification of manned aircraft, the monitoring of which will be handled by the National Aviation Authorities in the areas of Flight Operations, Airworthiness, Training and approval of foreign licensing bodies.

UAVs in Cyprus 80 notifications 3 Special Category Licenses 2 Training Organisations Licenses 2 Licensed Model airfields Before I finish, I would like to give some information of the presence and activity of unmanned aircraft systems in Cyprus. We all know that the market has been flooded by Drones of various characteristics and potential. Under the current Ordinance, every owner, or operator of a UAV must submit to the Department, a notification form, for the purpose of maintaining records. The Department, in addition to notification posted on its website, has informed dealers and stores selling Drones of the specific requirement. So far, 80 UAVs have been notified through submission of the relevant form. According to the information received, notifications have been submitted mainly by amateurs, permanent residents or foreign visitors for carrying out flights for the purpose of recreation, education and amateur aerial photography. Great interest is also shown by professional photographers for carrying out flights for the purpose of photographing different regions or social events. In addition, the Department receives requests for flights for the purpose of archaeological research as well as for other research, sports, educational and demonstration purposes. So far, the Department has issued licenses in the special category to three Cypriot companies, which under the current Ordinance, and in accordance with established criteria and conditions, may carry out flights for business purposes. The Department has also authorised two of the above companies as training organisations for UAV Pilot licensing. The DCA has authorised 2 Model Airfields in Tersefanou, and Kotsiatis. According to the Decree, the UAV activity within licensed Model Airfields is excluded from the scope of the regulation.

More Information www.mcw.gov.cy/dca 22404100 More information can be found on the department’s website or by telephone. Thank you for you attention