Ready to Fly

From your first Open category flight to authorised BVLOS operations, Ready to Fly is a complete, practical guide to the EASA rules for drone operators in Europe.

Written for remote pilots, professional operators, instructors and regulators, it covers what Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945 actually say — with every requirement traced to the article that establishes it.

Covers the EASA area: the 27 EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Chapter 1 — EASA Regulatory Framework

• History and evolution of drone regulation in Europe.
• Regulations (EU) 2019/947 and 2019/945 explained article by article.
• How EASA rules relate to national implementation.
• Scope of application: what the regulation does and does not reach.
• Worked cases and the most common misreadings.

Chapter 2 — Operation Categories

• Open category: subcategories A1, A2 and A3.
• Specific category: the three routes — declaration under STS, PDRA, and SORA with operational authorisation.
• Certified category: when it actually applies.
• Aircraft classes C0 to C6 — all seven below 25 kg MTOM.
• Legacy drones and the transitional regime.
• Model aircraft flying in clubs and associations (Article 16).
• Decision matrix: which category does my operation fall into?

Chapter 3 — Pilot Licences and Certifications

• A1/A3 certificate: online training and examination.
• A2 certificate: prior A1/A3, theory examination and declared practical self-training.
• STS-01 and STS-02: standard scenarios for Specific operations.
• Conversion and equivalences between certificates.
• Mutual recognition across EASA Member States.

Chapter 4 — Operator and Aircraft Registration

• Who must register, and the exact criteria.
• Registration procedure, worked through step by step.
• Operator registration number: public and reserved characters, and what goes on the label.
• Local ID and direct remote identification: which classes carry it.
• Third-party liability insurance under Regulation (EC) 785/2004.
• The single Member State rule and cross-border operation.

Chapter 5 — Airspace, U-space and ATC

• Classification of European airspace under SERA.
• Restrictions by operational category.
• UAS geographical zones, prohibited areas and restrictions.
• U-space: the regulatory package (EU) 2021/664, 665 and 666.
• Coordination with air traffic control.
• Practical tools for checking where you may fly.

Chapter 6 — Applied Meteorology for Drones

• Aviation meteorology fundamentals for UAS operations.
• Reading METAR reports and TAF forecasts.
• Where operating limits really come from — the manufacturer's manual, not the regulation.
• Official sources of weather information.
• Verifiable worked cases: making a defensible go/no-go decision.

Chapter 7 — Permits and Administrative Procedures

• Authorisation frameworks and which one your operation needs.
• Application procedure for the Specific category.
• Documentation required, by operation type.
• SORA and risk assessment: GRC and ARC leading to SAIL and the OSOs.
• Timescales and decision procedures.
• Competent authorities and contacts.

Chapter 8 — GDPR and Data Protection

• How Regulation (EU) 2016/679 applies to drone operations.
• Legal bases for processing personal data, including legitimate interest.
• Consent, transparency and informing data subjects.
• Specific restrictions on video and audio recording.
• Rights of data subjects and how to handle a request.
• A practical compliance procedure, including when a DPIA is needed.

Chapter 9 — Documentary Records and Logbooks

• What EASA actually requires: UAS.SPEC.050(1)(g), and for how long.
• Pilot logbook: content and requirements.
• Aircraft logbook: maintenance, firmware and repairs.
• Operations records and the system of three registers.
• Preparing for an audit or inspection.
• Integrating the logbook with a SORA submission.

Chapter 10 — Special Operations

• BVLOS: requirements and authorisation route.
• Operations over assemblies of people.
• Night operations — permitted in the Open category, with the conditions that apply.
• Specialised professional operations: precision agriculture, infrastructure inspection, photogrammetry, security and surveillance, critical infrastructure.
• Authorisation procedures, worked through end to end.

Chapter 11 — Safety and Best Practices

• Operational risk management.
• Preventive and corrective maintenance.
• Operational protocols and emergency procedures.
• Occurrence reporting under Regulation (EU) 376/2014: the 72-hour deadline, and why it applies in the Open category too.
• Just culture and its practical consequences.
• Pre-flight and post-flight checklists.

Chapter 12 — Glossary, Resources and Templates

• Glossary of 97 EASA terms, A to Z.
• Competent authorities in 16 countries, with verified links.
• Five reusable templates: application for authorisation, operations manual, SORA risk assessment, aircraft logbook, compliance checklist.
• Consolidated regulatory references.
• Quick checklist before operating.

Includes:

• 16 national competent authorities with verified links.
• 5 reusable templates and pre-flight, post-flight and audit checklists.
• 48 reference tables, 21 diagrams, EASA glossary.
• Worked cases by sector: agriculture, inspection, photogrammetry, security.

If you fly drones in Europe, this book shows you exactly which rules apply to your operation — and where each one comes from.