The “specific” category is intended for medium-risk operations whose flight parameters go beyond the “open” category. Flights in this category are based on a risk assessment from both the operator and the Civil Aviation Authority. The execution of the operation requires verification and, in some cases, approval from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Operations of this type can be carried out based on the CAA’s published National Standard Scenarios (NSTS) , European STS standard scenarios, or based on an individual authorization from the CAA President (e.g., flights above 120 meters over terrain) or an LUC certificate.
Performing operations in the “specific” category requires registration of all UAV operators regardless of the weight of the drone operated. The UAS operator must have submitted a Declaration of compliance of the operation in accordance with the NSTS or STS standard scenario (operators who have a LUC certificate are exempt from this obligation). It is also necessary to have confirmation of receipt and completeness of the declaration of compliance of the operation with the NSTS or STS standard scenario on the e-Registration website of the e-National Drone Information System.
A pilot performing operations for an operator in the “specific” category (in the case of a private person or sole proprietorship – the same person) must have appropriate competences (certificate of theoretical knowledge and confirmation of completion of practical training).
The UAS pilot is obliged to report each flight in the DroneTower mobile application.
An operator of an unmanned aircraft system could be compared to an airline that owns many planes, but does not fly them themselves. It is done by pilots who acquire the required ratings to fly the aircraft during courses and training. It’s very similar unmanned aviation community.
European drone regulations have made it mandatory to register operators, i.e. individuals or legal entities (e.g. companies, public institutions) that “intend to operate at least one unmanned aircraft system.”
After completing free registration on the e-Registration website of the National Drone Information Systemj, you will receive Confirmation of the operator’s registration with a unique identification number. This number must be placed on each drone for which registration is required.
IMPORTANT! The operator does not have to fly the drone at all. He can be, for example, only its owner. In addition to the obligation to register, that person also has liabilities as an operator of an unmanned aircraft system as described in Section UAS.OPEN.050 of COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft. In the case of NSTS 05-08 (BVLOS), the operator is obliged to prepare an operations manual (INOP) in accordance with Appendix 5 to COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft and establish procedures and restrictions adapted to the type of planned operation and the risks associated with it (so-called ERP: Emergency Response Plan).
Statement on standard scenario operation must be submitted when the parameters of the operations performed go beyond the “open” category.
On the e-Registration page of the National Drone Information System, you can submit declarations of operation in accordance with the Standard Scenario STS-01, STS-02, which require drones with the assigned class C5 and C6, respectively, to perform operations.
The National Standard Scenarios, which could be submitted until the end of 2023, are valid until December 31, 2025. You can no longer submit declarations for NSTS-compliant operations!
Any drone that is not a toy but is equipped in a camera should have the number of the operator for whom the pilot is flying.
The National Standard Scenarios (NSTS) are valid for 2 years – but no longer than December 31, 2025.
Guideline No. 6/2023 of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority dated May 11, 2023 on National Standard Scenario NSTS-01 for visual line of sight (VLOS) or first-person view (FPV) operations with an unmanned aircraft with a takeoff mass less than 4 kg.
Guideline No. 7/2023 of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority, dated May 11, 2023, on the National Standard Scenario NSTS-02 for visual line of sight (VLOS) operations using a multi-rotor (MR) category unmanned aircraft with a takeoff mass less than 25 kg.
Guideline No. 8/2023 of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority, dated May 11, 2023, on the National Standard Scenario NSTS-03 for visual line of sight (VLOS) operations using unmanned aircraft of the fixed-wing (A) category with a takeoff mass less than 25 kg.
Guideline No. 9/2023 of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority dated May 11, 2023 on the National Standard Scenario NSTS-04 for visual line of sight (VLOS) operations using unmanned aircraft of the helicopter category (H), with a takeoff mass less than 25 kg.
Guideline No. 10/2023 of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority, dated May 11, 2023, on National Standard Scenario NSTS-05 for operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) using unmanned aircraft with a takeoff mass less than 4 kg, at a distance of no more than 2 km from the pilot of the unmanned aircraft.
Guideline No. 18/2023 of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority dated June 6, 2023 on the National Standard Scenario NSTS-06 for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations using unmanned aircraft of the multi-rotor (MR) category with a takeoff mass less than 25 kg, at a distance of no more than 2 km from the pilot of the unmanned aircraft.
Guideline No. 12/2023 of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority dated May 11, 2023 on the National Standard Scenario NSTS-07 for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations with unmanned aircraft of the fixed-wing (A) category with a takeoff mass less than 25 kg, at a distance of no more than 2 km from the pilot of the unmanned aircraft.
Guideline No. 13/2023 of the President of the Civil Aviation Authority, dated May 11, 2023, on the National Standard Scenario NSTS-08 for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations using unmanned aircraft of the helicopter category (H) with a takeoff mass less than 25 kg, at a distance of no more than 2 km from the pilot of the unmanned aircraft.
Another way to fly in the “specific” category is to obtain an operation permit from the President of the ULC, which is used when the operation goes beyond the assumptions of standard scenarios and does not fall into the “open” category. To obtain a permit, the operator must submit an application to the ULC, preceded by a risk assessment.
Risk assessment can be carried out in two ways:
PDRAs published so far can be found in the GM (Guidance Material) to Article 11 of COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019.
The permit issued by the Civil Aviation Authority will specify the conditions for performing the operation. An application for a permit for operations in the “specific” category can be submitted by a registered operator. A model application for a permit for operations, together with instructions for completion, can be found on the CAA website.
The issuance of a certificate of operator of light unmanned aircraft systems LUC is carried out at the request of a legal entity (entrepreneur). An application for an LUC certificate must be submitted in order for the Civil Aviation Authority to assess the organization being operated and, demonstrate that the operator is capable of independently assessing the risks of the operation. The guidelines that must be met by the operator are set in the part C of COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2019/947 of 24 May 2019 on the rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft. If the requirements are fullfiled, the CAA will issue an LUC certificate and grant authorizations corresponding to the operator’s level of experience.
Permission may include operations without prior notification and, where appropriate, CAA approval:
The operator may carry out operations without obtaining the approval of the CAA, but is required to keep records of self-approved operations for, among other things, verification during inspection by the CAA.
The procedure for obtaining an LUC certificate is outlined on the CAA website.
The following documents entitle pilots to fly in the “specific” category:
Confirmation of pilot qualification authorizing operations in accordance with NSTS/STS are available on the pilot’s profile at: https://drony.gov.pl/.
A certificate of theoretical knowledge and confirmation of completion of practical training, which entitles the pilot to fly a UAS in the field of operations for which the trainee has obtained qualifications, e.g. NSTS or resulting from the scope of the operation permit.
The specific category is designed to realize UAS flights that cannot be realized in the Open category. The main difference from the Open category is:
