Flying in populated areas in 2026: what drone pilots absolutely must know
With the constant evolution of drone regulations, 2026 marks an important step for operations in populated areas, particularly in public spaces. The image above clearly summarizes the obligations governing these flights, exclusively reserved for professional use.
First essential rule: the maximum flight altitude remains fixed at 120 meters and operations must be carried out in direct view (VLOS). But beyond these basics, the regulations distinguish between two main frameworks: the open category and the specific category.
In the open category, a prefectural declaration is now mandatory at least 10 days before any operation. Three subcategories structure the uses:
- A1 (classes C0 and C1): allows flying near people, under strict conditions, with a ban on flying over crowds.
- A2 (class C2): concerns supervised flights near people, with a minimum safety distance of 30 meters (reducible to 5 meters at low speed).
- A3 (classes C3 and C4): dedicated to distant flights, requiring a distance of at least 150 meters from inhabited areas.
For more complex operations, the specific category comes into play. The standard scenario STS-01 (class C5) regulates flights at a distance from people with enhanced requirements: ground safety zone, speed limitation, absence of third parties, and documentary obligations such as the operations manual. More in-depth training (CATS + practical) is also required.
Finally, several official tools support drone pilots in their procedures: AlphaTango for declarations, and Géoportail (carte.gouv.fr) for identifying regulated areas.
In summary, flying in urban areas in 2026 remains possible, but requires rigor, anticipation, and a perfect knowledge of the legal framework. An increased professionalization of the sector primarily aims to guarantee the safety of all.