Competent Authority
Drone operations in Belgium are overseen by the DGTA (Directorate-General Transport – Air), a division of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Public Works (FPS Mobility). The DGTA implements EU Regulation (EU) 2019/947 in full, as Belgium is an EASA member state, and coordinates with skeyes (the Belgian civil aviation authority for airspace management) for operational airspace matters.
Registration and Marking
All drone operators in Belgium must register via the Belac portal (belac.bcaa.be), managed by the DGTA. Registration is mandatory for:
- Any drone weighing 250 g or more.
- Any drone equipped with a sensor capable of capturing personal data (camera, microphone), regardless of weight.
Upon registration, operators receive a unique alphanumeric identifier that must be affixed visibly and durably to each aircraft. Registration costs a nominal administrative fee and must be renewed periodically. Operators must ensure the identifier is legible at all times during flight.
Remote Pilot Certifications
Belgium follows the EASA tiered competency structure:
- Open A1/A3: Free online theoretical training and examination via the Belac portal (40 questions, 75% pass mark).
- Open A2: Online exam plus a self-declared practical skills assessment, permitting closer proximity to uninvolved persons (minimum 30 m, or 10 m in low-speed mode).
- Specific category: Operators must either adopt a recognised Standard Scenario (STS) or submit a full Operational Authorisation application with a supporting SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) to the DGTA. STS operations require both a recognised EASA theoretical competency examination and a practical proficiency check at an accredited training organisation. Pilots holding the French CATS (Certificat d'Aptitude Théorique de Télépilote — which replaced the CATT on 1 January 2026) are recognised in Belgium under EU mutual recognition without requiring a separate local examination.
Categories of Operations
| Category | Conditions | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Open | No prior authorisation | Max 120 m AGL, VLOS, max 25 kg |
| Specific | Prior authorisation or STS | Risk assessment, operational manual required |
| Certified | Full airworthiness | Regulated like manned aviation |
BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations require an individual Specific category authorisation. The DGTA evaluates BVLOS requests on a case-by-case basis, and applicants must demonstrate robust risk mitigation including detect-and-avoid technology and robust C2 link integrity.
Restricted Zones and Official Resources
Airspace awareness in Belgium is managed through the skeyes platform and its companion mobile application (available at skeyes.be). This tool displays:
- Permanent restricted zones (CTRs, military areas, nature reserves).
- Dynamic temporary restrictions (TFRAs) updated in real time.
- UAS geographical zones compliant with EU Regulation (EU) 2021/664.
Brussels Capital Region is subject to particularly strict restrictions. The area falls within the Brussels Airport CTR and is also subject to heightened security measures related to EU institutions and NATO headquarters. Recreational flights in this area are almost entirely prohibited without explicit authorisation. Pilots must contact skeyes and, where applicable, the Brussels local authorities before any operation within the Brussels agglomeration.
National Specifics
Belgium has several notable characteristics relative to the base EASA framework:
- The Belac portal consolidates operator registration, pilot licensing, and airspace authorisation into one federal platform, simplifying administrative burden for operators.
- skeyes provides a highly granular real-time airspace map, including active temporary restrictions linked to police operations, large events, and military exercises.
- Privacy law enforcement is actively applied to drone operations: collecting personal data from the air (images of identifiable individuals) triggers obligations under Belgian GDPR implementation, including potential notification to the Data Protection Authority (APD/GBA).
- Drone flights over public gatherings, demonstrations, or sporting events require specific coordination with local police and the DGTA.
- Belgium has been an active participant in U-Space pilot projects, meaning regulatory evolution toward automated drone corridor management is ongoing in urban test zones.