Flying a drone, professionally or for fun, means knowing the regulations in force and the restrictions that come with them. There are rules you need to be aware of if you want to avoid a penalty. For drones under 250 grams, the framework is lighter than for larger aircraft — but lighter is not the same as absent.
Here is what the regulation for drones under 250 grams actually says, so you know where you stand and how to fly safely and legally. UMILES runs AESA-approved drone pilot courses.
Under 250 grams is not the same as no rules
You still register as an operator if it carries a camera, you still respect the geographical zones, and you still carry the liability. What relaxes is the training required, not the responsibility.
Drones under 250 grams: the rules
Aircraft under 250 grams are the most popular way into recreational flying. Some mini drones, though, deliver genuinely professional results despite their size — which is why there are specific rules for small aircraft rather than a blanket exemption.
AESA, the Spanish aviation safety agency, requires accreditation to fly a drone regardless of its weight. Aircraft classified as toys by the manufacturer — stated on the product or its documentation — are exempt from that requirement and may be flown in the open category without applying for permissions, under the Toy Safety Directive (Directive 2009/48/EC).
In other words: as long as your sub-250-gram drone is identified as a toy and labelled as such on the packaging, you can fly in the open category (A1, A2 and A3) without asking permission.
Where the aircraft carries any sensor capable of capturing personal data — a camera or a microphone — and is not classed as a toy by the manufacturer, the pilot has to be registered as a UAS operator. That covers aircraft such as the DJI Mavic Mini and Mini 2, the Hubsan Zino Mini SE or the Xiaomi Fimi X8 Mini, among others.
Subcategory A1
Flying a UAS requires a minimum level of training depending on the operational category, and the open category covers the operations with the lowest level of risk. It is divided into three subcategories: A1, A2 and A3.
Within A1, the aircraft cleared to fly are the lightest — under 250 grams. To fly them, the pilot needs to be familiar with the manufacturer’s instructions and to have completed the minimum training AESA requires (A1/A3, and the A2 certificate where it applies). At UMILES University we run that training across several campuses in Spain.
Once you charge for it, the weight stops mattering
Professional use is not decided by grams: it is decided by where you fly and who is underneath. That means A2, the specific category, and an operator registration.
What do you need to fly a drone under 250 grams?
Because these aircraft are light and pose little risk, there are few hard limits on their use. But there are things worth doing anyway, particularly if you are thinking about working as a drone pilot:
- Be familiar with the manufacturer’s manual.
- Know where drones may be flown. That tells you which areas are open to you and keeps you from wandering into restricted ones such as aerodromes or protected natural areas.
- Consider taking out drone insurance to cover damage if the aircraft hits someone or something.
So while you do not need specific accreditation for a sub-250-gram aircraft, you do need to know the basics of flying one.
At UMILES University we run specialised drone training covering the fundamentals of UAS flight, with a full professional drone pilot course that certifies you to operate across the categories — including with aircraft heavier than 250 grams.
Which drones need accreditation?
Accreditation applies to UAS operating in the higher-risk categories, and there are different types of drone certificate for each of them. As noted above, the rules for drones under 250 grams do not require any licence or certification. For aircraft with an MTOM of 250 grams or more, the corresponding certificate is required and the pilot must register as a UAS drone operator.
The small drone is the way in, not the ceiling
- ✓Training approved by AESA, the Spanish aviation authority
- ✓Real flight practice, not just theory
- ✓Campuses in Madrid, Bilbao, Málaga, Galicia and Asturias
- ✓We tell you which path fits you, no strings attached
Not sure which path fits you? Tell us where you are and we will point you to the right one.
