Understanding the New 2026 Drone Regulations in France and Europe

From January 1, 2026, France and the EU fully implement the new European drone regulatory framework. Rules now focus on risk‑based categories (Open and Specific) rather than older national scenarios. Open category flights (A1, A2, A3) must remain within visual line of sight and respect altitude/people restrictions, while Specific operations follow standard scenarios such as STS‑01 (VLOS in controlled or populated areas) and STS‑02 (BVLOS in less populated areas). Drones are classified by technical classes (C0–C6) that determine where and how they can fly, and professional flights in urban areas require advance notification to authorities. These changes aim to harmonise safety and compliance across the EU and France.