Searching for a lost pet with a drone in Austria
Austria follows the EU open category, which Austro Control says suits hobby pilots and line-of-sight work alike, with mandatory insurance for every drone.
| Aviation authority | Austro Control |
|---|---|
| Registration | Register as an operator if the drone weighs 250 g or more, or less if it has a camera (unless it is a toy). One number for all your drones, shown on each one and valid in every EASA country. €46.80 for 3 years; 18 or over; an insurance policy number is required. Register. |
| Test or certificate | EU A1/A3 drone licence: free online course and test on Dronespace, above 250 g; from 16, or under direct supervision. |
| Maximum height | 120 m (400 ft) above the ground. |
| Line of sight | Always in sight with your own eyes. An observer standing next to you may help. |
| Night flights | Allowed with a green flashing light on the drone. |
| Remote ID | Required on class C1, C2 and C3 drones; not on C0 drones or drones without a class mark. |
| No-fly zones | Dronespace map (Austro Control) |
| Controlled airspace | Control zones (Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz, Salzburg, Vienna): air traffic consent by filing a flight plan in Dronespace; drones under 250 g up to 30 m are exempt. |
What matters for a search in Austria
- Liability insurance is mandatory for every drone.
- Nature reserves are not on the Dronespace map yet: ask the state government before flying.
- Fines can reach €22,000.
Before every search flight
- Check the no-fly zones for the exact area in Dronespace map (Austro Control).
- Ask the landowner if you take off from private land.
- Keep the drone in sight and below the height limit, away from people, roads and buildings.
- Let the owner of the animal know you are flying, and where.
Official sources
- www.dronespace.at
- www.dronespace.at/open/allgemeine_informationen
- www.dronespace.at/geo_zonen/allgemeine_informationen
- www.dronespace.at/geo_zonen/kontrollzonen
A summary to help you prepare a search, not legal advice. The official sources have the final word.
Reviewed on October 22, 2026.
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