Important Information Regarding Drone Operations in the Schladming Area
When operating drones in the Schladming area, particular attention must be paid to the applicable airspace restrictions. Due to the helicopter landing site at Schladming Hospital, specific safety regulations apply in the surrounding area to protect emergency helicopter operations.
Within the designated protection zone, drones may only be operated with the appropriate authorisation from Austro Control, regardless of their size or weight. This requirement also applies to drones with a maximum take-off mass of less than 250 g and to flights conducted at low altitude (below 30 metres).
As the helicopter landing site may be used for emergency and rescue operations at any time, helicopter arrivals and departures must be expected at all times. For this reason, the airspace restrictions apply throughout the year, 24 hours a day.
If a drone flight is to be conducted within the protection zone, prior approval from Austro Control must be obtained. As part of the authorisation process, permitted flight areas and time slots may be specified in order to ensure the safe operation of manned air traffic.
Failure to comply with these regulations may result in significant legal consequences. In addition to administrative penalties, there is a particular risk of endangering emergency helicopter operations. Therefore, before every drone flight, the current airspace situation should be checked via DroneSpace or another suitable drone application and, where required, approval should be obtained from Austro Control.
Checking No-Fly Zones with the ÖAMTC Drone App
To stay informed about current no-fly zones at all times, it is recommended to register at dronespace.at and to use a suitable drone application.
In addition to the Austro Control app, the ÖAMTC Drone App is particularly recommended. It provides an interactive map showing all no-fly zones in Austria and is continuously updated.
Before every drone flight, the planned flight must be registered through the relevant application. The flight may only commence once approval has been granted. In addition, every drone operator should hold valid drone liability insurance.
General Regulations
Category A1 (Drones under 250 g)
Drones in Category A1 may generally be flown over uninvolved persons; however, they must never be flown over assemblies of people. The pilot must plan and conduct the flight in such a way that overflight of uninvolved persons is avoided wherever possible. If such overflight is unavoidable, its duration must be limited to the minimum necessary.
Category A2
The following minimum distances from uninvolved persons apply to Category A2 drones:
- Without CE marking: minimum horizontal distance of 50 m.
- With CE marking: minimum horizontal distance of 30 m.
- In Low-Speed Mode: minimum distance may be reduced to 5 m.
Category A3
When operating drones in Category A3, a minimum horizontal safety distance of 150 m must be maintained from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas. Furthermore, no uninvolved persons may be present within the intended flight area.