Before flying a drone, you must check the requirements for the zone in which you wish to fly your drone or other unmanned aircraft in the Estonian Air Navigation Service application. You must also check whether there are any temporary restrictions on the zone, for which the Estonian Transport Administration issues NOTAM notices.
Please note: All pilots are required to fly their drones in compliance with the ‘open’ category rules. An exception applies to those pilots who are authorised to fly their drones in the ‘specific’ category.
The map application is a supplementary source of information on permanent safety restrictions in the Estonian airspace, but it does not relieve the operator from compliance or liability for non-compliance.
Map application should be checked in planning phase and also just before flight, because there are permanent areas, but there also can be temporary restrictions in airspace.
From this link you can download and display all currently active UAS relevant areas in Estonia in common digital form. It’s JSON file format and you need an application that can read JSON files in your computer to see the information in it’s correct form.
Specific category operational authorisation owners and organizers of big events (e.g music concert) can make an application for making an UAS flight restriction zones for keeping other UAS operators away from their operations or for the objective to keep participants of big events safe.
Applications for specific category operational authorisation owners and for organizers of the big events.
When flying a drone or other unmanned aircraft, you must comply with the restrictions set out in the application, which apply in the zones all the time. If you want to fly above the height limit or outside other ‘open’ category rules, you are required to have the ‘specific’ category operational authorisation.
Map application should be checked in planning phase and also just before flight, because there are permanent areas, but there also can be temporary restrictions in airspace.
Set limit is allowed to exceed when you are passing an obstacle. In that case you can fly an unmanned aircraft within a horizontal distance of 50 metres from an artificial obstacle, 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. Limits depend on geographical zone and can be checked on map application. These flights can take place following same logic than written in European Commission regulation 2019/947 annex A part UAS.OPEN.010 (3).
There are a number of helipads in the Tallinn area, the vicinity of which is subject to special conditions. Near the helipads marked in the application, the remote pilot must use the application functionality to notify the Tallinn Tower air traffic controller of the unmanned aircraft flight and obtain take-off clearance from the controller. You can find all the zones subject to permission and other relevant zones in the map application.
In addition, there are security-related zones near Tallinn, which are marked in brown in the map application and for which you can find more information by clicking on the corresponding zone in the map application.
In close proximity to the airport, unmanned aircraft may, from now on, only be flown under the ‘specific’ category operational authorisation. This zone can be found in the map application where it is indicated as a zone with the maximum height limit of 0 metres.
The drone pilot, i.e. operator, must notify the Tallinn Tower air traffic controller (telephone +372 625 8260) immediately if communication with the unmanned aircraft is lost and it flies uncontrolled.
When flying in the aera of Tallinn harbour area, you need to have permission to fly there from Port of Tallinn.
Geographical zones near Ämari airbase you require permit from Defence Forces. Application must be sent 5 working days before planned flight to lennuluba@mil.ee. Then they will decide if your planned flight is possible.
EEGZ19 you need to have permission to fly at any height.
EEGZ20 you need to have permission to fly starting from 30 meters above ground
EEGZ21 you need to have permission to fly starting from 60 meters above ground
THE REQUEST MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1) name, personal identification code or registry code, telephone number and email address of the operator;
2) registration number of the operator;
3) remote pilot ID and competency;
4) name and personal identification code of the remote pilot;
5) flight location with geodetic coordinates, flight area or flight point with radius;
6) requested flight height above the ground or water level;
7) date and beginning and end times of the flight;
8) contingency plan for ensuring air safety in the event that control over the unmanned aircraft is lost;
9) type, brand and registration mark of the unmanned aircraft;
10) make and serial number of the unmanned aircraft;
11) purpose of the flight;
12) notation on whether two-way radio contact is possible.
Ämari Air Base asks you to attach to the request an extract of the map of the desired flight area, which will make it easier for the air traffic controller to find the flight location when your request take-off clearance. Otherwise, in the event of heavier workload, the air traffic controller at Ämari has the right to refuse take-off clearance.
If the conditions set by the Ämari Air Base are met (obtaining permission or submitting a notification), the remote pilot may fly the unmanned aircraft according to the ‘open’ category rules and by following the height limits indicated by the Estonian Transport Administration as applicable in the vicinity of airports. If you want to fly above the height limit or outside other ‘open’ category rules, you are required to have the ‘specific’ category operational authorisation.
To fly within territory of Paldiski South Harbour, you need to have permission from Port of Tallinn.
IN THE ÄMARI CONTROL ZONE, EACH FLIGHT MUST ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Before operating an unmanned aircraft, permission must be obtained from the Ämari Tower air traffic controller (telephone 717 3415).
- The air traffic controller may postpone the desired beginning of the operation considering the traffic situation.
- The air traffic controller may ground the unmanned aircraft for a necessary period of time considering the traffic situation if this is considered necessary.
- The remote pilot must immediately inform the air traffic controller of loss of communication with the unmanned aircraft and of its flying uncontrolled.
- The remote pilot must inform the air traffic controller (telephone 717 3415) each time the flying of unmanned aircraft ends.
When flying a drone or other unmanned aircraft in a specific area, you must respect the height limits shown in the map application for that area. Flights must be operated in accordance with the ‘open’ category rules, and height limits are applicable in the corresponding zones around the clock.
The general height limit is 120 metres; however, lower limits apply near airports. If you want to fly above the height limit or outside other ‘open’ category rules, you are required to have the ‘specific’ category operational authorisation.
There is air traffic at the helipads near the hospitals in Kuressaare, Kärdla and Pärnu, which is why the pilot of a drone or other unmanned aircraft must ask the flight information services officer responsible for the airspace area for information before flying. There is no obligation to ask for information outside the working hours of the flight information services officer.
You can find the working hours of flight information services officers in the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). Changes to the working hours set out in the AIP are published by NOTAM notifications. You can also find the contacts and the zones where notification is mandatory in the map application.
In close proximity to airports, unmanned aircraft may only be flown under a ‘specific’ category operational authorisation.
From 8 September 2022, there are geographical zones where the flying of unmanned aircraft is restricted. Such geographical zones were established to limit the flying of unmanned aircraft on national security, public order and environmental protection considerations.
The restrictions serve to minimise the risks which may accompany the flying of an unidentified unmanned aircraft over certain objects or in their close proximity. They also serve to minimise potential extraordinary incidents and mitigate risks to the protection of objects and locations related to national and internal security. The Environmental Board has established flight restrictions on wildlife protection considerations.
- Flight restrictions applicable to aircraft and geographical zones where unmanned aircraft flights are limited
- Explanatory memorandum to the Regulation
Security, internal security and environmental protection zones are marked on the map. Flights in each zone require permission from the manager of the zone. You can find the manager of the zone and their contact details in the map application under the information for the zone.
If permission has been obtained from the manager of the zone, the remote pilot may operate the flight according to the ‘open’ category rules, following the height limits indicated by the Estonian Transport Administration as applicable in the vicinity of airports. If you want to fly a drone or other unmanned aircraft above the height limit or outside other rules applicable in the ‘open’ category, you are required to have the ‘specific’ category operational authorisation.
Please note: Where different restricted zones overlap, all the restrictions must be respected. For example, in the case of height restrictions, you must fly to the lowest permitted height.
TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO FLY IN A GEOGRAPHICAL ZONE, YOU MUST SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST IN A FREE FORMAT, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1) name, personal identification code or registry code, telephone number and email address of the operator;
2) name and personal identification code of the remote pilot;
3) address and name, if any, of the geographical zone for which permission is sought;
4) geodetic coordinates of the geographical zone, flight area or flight point with radius;
5) requested flight height above the ground or water level;
6) date and beginning and end times of the flight;
7) contingency plan for ensuring air safety in the event that control over the unmanned aircraft is lost;
8) type, brand and registration mark of the unmanned aircraft;
9) make and serial number of the unmanned aircraft;
10) purpose of the flight;
11) notation on whether two-way radio contact is possible.
Each geographical zone established for security, internal security and environmental protection purposes may have different contact details to which a request must be sent. Please check these details in the map application. The manager of the geographical zone will decide whether or not to grant permission within five business days of receiving a proper request.
Where geographical zones overlap, permission must be requested from the managers of all the zones.
For more information, see the Police and Border Guard Board website here.
Last updated: 04.12.2024
