🚁📸 Drones and privacy: where you can fly and how not to break the rules 🚫

This is an overview memo for tourists and content creators. It does not replace official training/permits. Before each flight, check the current regulations on the regulators' websites and restriction maps; rules and zones are subject to change by NOTAM/local regulations.

In short: what is mandatory in the "open category" (EASA)

● Maximum 120 m AGL, flight within visual line of sight (VLOS), no flying over crowds, no transporting dangerous goods or dropping objects. The drone must be marked with your operator number.

● Subcategories: A1/A2/A3.

○ A2: do not fly over people; minimum distance of 30 m from uninvolved persons (can be reduced to 5 m in low-speed mode for C2 drones).

○ A3: keep away from people and no closer than 150 m to residential/commercial/industrial/recreational areas.

● Operator registration and basic online exam A1/A3 (for most cases). Foreign nationals: certificates/registration from other EASA countries are accepted; when entering outside EASA, register in the first country of flight (in Norway — via flydrone.no).

● Drones <250 g with camera: the operator must still register (except for certified "toys").

● Remote ID (DRI): from 1 January 2024, active Remote ID is required for drones with C1–C3 markings (and for flights in "specific" areas); exceptions apply for C0/C4 and "legacy" drones without C class.

Where you can't fly: "red zones" and common traps

1) Airports and controlled airspace

● Basic rule: no closer than 5 km to an airport without permission; at many sites, permission must be requested via Ninox Drone (UTM) — see the Avinor map. Norway is gradually moving to a "no fly zone within CTR without permission" regime.

● Check AIP/NOTAM and use official tools before take-off.

2) Oslo city centre — permanent restricted zone R-102

● Flying over central Oslo is prohibited (radius 1 NM, from ground level to 3000 ft AMSL) without special dispensation from the CAA. The application (NF-1129) is submitted via Altinn, processing takes approximately up to 2 weeks; the police usually refuse on certain days (17 May, 10 December, New Year's Eve, etc.).

● There are separate airborne sensor ban zones — please check the NSM map.

3) National parks and protected nature

● By default, drones are prohibited in national parks and large landscape reserves (take-off/landing and flight), and restrictions often apply in nature reserves — check the regulations for the specific area.

4) Svalbard (Spitsbergen)

● Prohibited within 5 km of the airport. There is a general ban on drones in all protected areas of Svalbard; from 1 April to 31 August, flying within 500 m of bird cliffs is prohibited. In general, the priority is not to disturb wildlife.

● Tourist information also emphasises that there are strict local restrictions in Longyearbyen — check before travelling.

5) Rescue operations, fires, exercises

● Never fly near accident sites or rescue operations — this is clearly stated in the Fly drone trygt regulator's memo. All aircraft involved in rescue operations are coordinated through HRS; "wild" drones interfere and pose a risk to helicopters.

6) Privacy and filming people

● Respect privacy: do not film in houses/yards without consent; image processing requirements are described by Datatilsynet.

How to fly in cities, near water and in the mountains — safely and legally

Over people/buildings. In A1/A2/A3, flying over crowds is prohibited; in A2, keep 30 m (or 5 m at low speed); in A3, keep 150 m away from residential/commercial areas. Plan your routes so that you can quickly reach a safe altitude/landing point.

Near fjords, embankments, and ports. Watch out for helicopter activity (medical/police), maritime traffic, and gusty winds, especially in narrow bays. Check local restrictions on aerial photography (NSM) and bird protection zones.

In the mountains. Do not fly near rescue operations/avalanche training, stay below 120 m AGL, in VLOS, and stay away from ski slopes and small aircraft corridors.

Mini-guide: what to check before flying

1. Operator status and certificates (registration, A1/A3; A2 for flights closer to people).
2. Remote ID activated (if your drone is C1–C3 / flying in "specific" areas).
3. Restriction map: airports/CTR (Avinor/Ninox), R zones/NOTAM, NSM (sensor ban), protected areas.
4. Take-off/landing site: not on private land without consent; take wind/people/animals into account.
5. Civil liability insurance is mandatory for flights in Norway.
   

Examples and nuances

● Oslo. Inside R-102 — only with CAA permission; many urban areas are also under a sensor ban (NSM). Outside R-102, take into account the Gardermoen/Fornebu helicopter corridors.

● National parks (Dovrefjell, Jotunheimen, etc.). Drones are generally prohibited; find out if the selected valley is a landscape reserve/nature reserve.

● Svalbard. Strict nature conservation restrictions and seasonal bans near bird colonies; separate rules in Longyearbyen.

Check the air restriction map before flying: request permission from airports via Ninox/Avinor + check R-/D-zones (AIP/NOTAM) + NSM map (sensor ban) + rules for national parks/nature reserves.

Remote ID regulations and procedures near airports are evolving (transition to permits within the CTR, digital clearances via Ninox). Always double-check the current status with Luftfartstilsynet and Avinor before flying.

If you notice any changes (new zones/seasonal restrictions), send us a screenshot or a brief note and we will update the material.