The right flight category for professional UAV missions
In the world of commercial air operations, following the rules is a guarantee of efficiency and safety. At Skyline Drones, planning every mission starts with one essential step: choosing the right flight category.
Whether it’s industrial site inspections, collecting geospatial data or flying near critical infrastructure, falling into the right legal category is what makes the difference between a viable project and a feasible one.
Why does flight category matter in professional operations?
The UAV flight categories, Open, Specific and Certified, define the limits within which a mission can be performed, depending on the risks, the type of drone and the operational environment.
For an ordinary operator, the Open regime may seem sufficient. But for an inspection mission in a solar park, for example, close to a populated area, or for scanning an industrial building in an urban environment, things become more complex.
That’s where Skyline Drones’ experience comes in: most of our missions are carried out on a “Specific” basis, with prior risk assessments and customized flight plans.
How we use categories in Skyline Drones’ work
Depending on the complexity of the mission and the operating environment, the Skyline Drones team adapts the legal scenario as follows:
Open category: for standard missions in remote areas with equipment under 4 kg and safe distance from people. Examples: agricultural inspections or rural surveillance flights.
By the way, Skyline Academy offers full support for obtaining the A1/A3 and A2 certifications, essential if you’re planning to operate in the Open category and want to expand your UAV flight capabilities in compliance with EU regulations.
Specific Category: frequently applied, allowing flights near buildings, infrastructure or in controlled environments. Larger equipment (e.g. DJI M350/M400, Tundra 2.1, Trinity Pro, etc.) fall under this category and Skyline Drones holds the necessary authorizations for such missions.
Certified category: mainly reserved for institutional operators (e.g. deliveries or aerial transportation of hazardous materials), but relevant for the future integration of UAVs in the national airspace. Skyline Drones follows legislative developments to integrate these standards when they become commercially applicable.
What is involved in operating in the Specific category?
At this level, operational experience and legal documentation are essential. For each flight:
A SORA risk analysis is prepared
Authorizations are obtained from AACR or competent entities
Specific safety and redundancy procedures are implemented
Mission-compatible equipment is used, including advanced return-to-home, detect-and-avoid and redundant communications features
The Skyline Drones team is made up of pilots certified in several European countries, experienced in multi-sensor missions and in coordination with aviation authorities.
Why work with a certified UAV service provider?
Every mission needs to provide more than just data, it needs to offer guaranteed compliance and operational reliability. A certified provider like Skyline Drones brings:
Expertise in integrating flight categories on a per-scenario basis
Access to state-of-the-art equipment and authorized pilots
Ability to operate in environments where hobbyist or unauthorized operators do not have access
Support in writing and managing technical documentation
The choice of flight category is the foundation of any successful UAV mission. At Skyline Drones, we combine legislative knowledge with technical rigor to deliver safe, compliant and efficient aerial services, whatever the challenges on the ground.
Whether you’re planning an aerial mission, whether simple or complex, our team can advise, execute and support you every step of the way, from planning through to delivery of results.
